The Ministry of Home Affairs says 116 Buxton youths recently graduated from its service oriented skills training course hosted through the Community Action Component (CAC) of the Citizen Security Programme.
In his address at the ceremony, hosted at the Friendship Primary School, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said, “This is a celebration of accomplishment, a celebration of the way forward.” He then urged the graduates to use their initiatives to grasp opportunities and apply the marketable skills that they have learned during the six-month course to prosper.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release this is the second group of youths from the community that have completed the CAC training programme. In May, 88 youths graduated.
In his address, Bishop Juan Edghill, member of the CAC Advisory Board, said the trainees’ involvement with and graduation from the programme are sufficient reasons for the community to be proud. “You that are graduating are defining the new Buxton,” he told the graduates, adding that they are setting an example for other youths in the community to overcome challenges and succeed. “The presence of a functioning CAC body in Buxton also demonstrates that there are leaders in the community who value the community and are prepared to work for its betterment,” he noted explaining that for this reason leaders must be commended.
Buxton/Friendship Community Action Officer, Margaret Barnes said that the community is honoured to be involved in the CAC programme, noting that over the past 12 months over 200 youths have benefited. “We are grateful that the community has been given the opportunity to help young people embark on and develop skills that will empower them for the future, thus making their lives more meaningful,” she said.
In her charge to the graduates, Barnes urged them to use their new skills as “a bridge, a window to a better future.” She noted that the training period is now over but each participant has learned something and acquired a new skill that they can add to and access a brighter future.
GINA said CAC is part of an endeavour to reduce the spread of violence in communities and focuses on social development programmes for youths and community members by utilising strategies such as skills training to strengthen them and their communities. CAC provides training in 14 areas including auto mechanic, bakery, cake decoration and electrical installation. To date, over 900 youths have been trained.
