The Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre recently concluded 30 hours of intensive training for 24 adults to equip them with the knowledge and skills to share information on gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV/AIDS.
The participants were from varying backgrounds including from the three main religions, health and education sectors, women’s groups, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and civil society, a press release said.
They pledged to work within their various communities and provide feedback when they meet again.
The sessions were facilitated by Vidyaratha Kissoon and Paulette Henry. In their presentations, Luella Chichester, of the Child Protection Agency; state counsel Dionne McCammon, of the DPP Chambers, and Dr H Chand, of the Skeldon Hospital, highlighted the roles and services their agencies provide. McCammon also spoke about the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Acts.
The participants expressed appreciation to Vanessa Thompson, Co-ordinator of the gender-based violence project – in the office of the financial contractor, Community Support and Development Services (CSDS).
The project – ‘Engaging Men and Boys and Traditional leaders and community initiatives in addressing and preventing Gender-Based Violence and HIV’- is ten months long and is funded by USAID through the CSDS. A similar training is planned for youths in April. Follow-up training in Counselling Skills is also planned, the Centre said.
