Twenty-nine young people graduated last Friday from the USAID Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) programme, becoming the 21st batch to do so.
A press release from the US Embassy said that the 29 youth received certificates for completing the four-week “Work Ready Now!” training. The SKYE programme is part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) partnership between the United States and Caribbean countries.
Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt who represented the US government said that “…for youth to realize their potential, they must be able to successfully navigate that transition from childhood to being a productive adult. Governments, families, civil society organizations, and the private sector, all play critical roles in enabling that successful transition by supporting the development of youth.”
The release said that upon completion of their training the USAID SKYE programme continues to support youth in finding and keeping employment. Existing partnerships with the private sector are central to this aspect of the programme. Members of the private sector provide guidance to the programme, participate in programme activities, identify employment sector alliances to maximize programme resources, and assist the USAID SKYE team in identifying employment opportunities for youth beneficiaries.
Volunteer Youth Corps, SKYE’s local partner implemented the training and drew on the experience and advice of local public and private sector employers who provided vital tips for success in employment, to guide young Guyanese to better understand what businesses are looking for when selecting employees, the release said.
The SKYE programme focuses on at-risk youth, mainly young men, who are school dropouts, youth who completed formal education but do not have the necessary skills to find employment, and youth involved in the juvenile justice system. To date, a total of 577 youth have completed life skills training and 170 youth have been placed into full-time employment, the release said.
