Participants of the Sophia Training Centre (non-residential) Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme received their certificates on Friday at the Sophia Skills Training Centre.
The graduation ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and 106 trainees received certificates for completing courses in various fields. Among the areas of study were Catering, Handicraft, Masonry, Office Administration (OA) and Information Technology (IT), Refrigeration and Air-condition Repair and Welding and Fabrication.
Plaques of achievement were presented to the top student of each field.
The following were the best graduating trainees in each field: Christopher James, Catering; Alison Edwards, OA and IT; Romando Sugrim, Refrigeration and AC Repair; Omesh Kryshundayal, Welding and Fabrication; Seon Coates, Handicraft and Alpha Fletchman, Masonry.
Keith Booker, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport represented Minister Frank Anthony as the guest speaker at the occasion. Booker apologized for the minister’s absence, noting that Anthony was dealing with other matters of state and parliament.
The permanent secretary encouraged the graduates to continue improving their individual skills. He particularly emphasized that every skill was important to society. “No cook, no food,” Booker said, bringing forth giggles from the audience. “Therefore,” he continued, “we need grave diggers, we need cooks and carpenters because without them many people would be in trouble. Every service offered by these workers is important to society.”
Christopher James was heartily congratulated for being the highest achiever in Catering and for being one of the males pursuing a non-traditional line of occupation.
Seon Coates, highest achiever in Handicraft told Stabroek News that he was happy, and was hoping to attend a second course which is to begin at the centre shortly.
The young man said that the ministry should ensure that such training is continuously available to youths.
