Forty-six young people from throughout Anguilla have had an opportunity to benefit from two programmes offered by the very active Department of Youth and Culture which is keenly interested in their training, employment and welfare.
They are graduates of the Job Link-Up Programme in which there were 25 participants this year; and the Youth Exposure Programme in which there were 21 participants this year.
The Department of Youth and Culture, in collaboration with the Management Advisory Board, presented the 10th Annual Certificate Ceremony Job-Up Programme, and the 4th Annual Certificate Ceremony on Friday, September 7, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. The event had as its theme: “Striving for higher heights.”
Acting Director of Youth and Culture, Ms. Avon Carty, gave an overview of both programmes. According to her, the Job Link-up Programme targets young people between the ages 13 and 16 who find it difficult to obtain employment due to a combination of socio-economic factors.
“The programme provides participants with behavioural and career conselling, ongoing mentorship support, continued education and skills development, all delivered by the Anguilla Community College,” she explained. “This is followed by six months work placements. Our 2018 cycle started in January with 31 persons referred to the programme, 25 of whom were accepted. Of that 31, 25 completed the programme with eight doing so at level one; seven at level two with merit; and six at level 3. A total of six gained full-time employment on completion of the programme; and at least four others matriculated to the continuing education and skill development programme at the Community College.”
Of the Youth Exposure Programme, Ms. Carty said it was one of three components of the Anguilla Service Corps. She explained: “Persons in this programme are required to meet the following criteria – They are unemployed and have been seeking employment for at least one year; they are between the ages of 13 and 17; and they have a minimum of four CXC subjects including English. The programme started in 2015…Clients in the Youth Exposure Programme must be belongers of Anguilla, and we have secured placements for them at government or quasi-government departments for them for six months periods.
“The aim of the programme is to assist our clients to have employability status and to prepare them for the world of work. It is our hope that, when vacancies arise at the departments where they are attached, our clients can apply for the jobs based on the knowledge and skills and abilities they have developed.”
The participants in the programmes were congratulated by Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Youth and Culture, who also assisted with the presentation of certificates.
Other speakers were: Mr. Christopher Richardson who delivered the keynote address; Mr. Quincy Harrigan, Acting Dean of the Community College; Ms Jocelyn Johnson, Acting Permanent Secretary, Youth and Culture; Mrs. Magna Carty-Provenzal, of the Big Store, who employed at least two of the young people involved in the programmes; and Alovene Belle and Rena Ruan of the Youth Exposure and Job Link-up Programmes respectively, both of whom gave testimonials.
