79 young people are now better equipped to enter Guyana’s workforce, after completing a four-month technical training programme under the Youth Empowerment and Skills Training (YEST) initiative.
The graduation was held on Saturday at the National Culture Centre and celebrated students who had completed training in five key technical areas such as welding, carpentry, plumbing, masonry and electrical installation, earning a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level One certificate.
The programme is designed to provide young people, including early school leavers, with practical and theoretical skills that can lead to employment, further education and entrepreneurship, while responding to the growing demand for qualified artisans across Guyana.
Beyond technical training, the programme incorporated basic mathematics, English, information technology and entrepreneurship, while exposing participants to field activities, community projects and practical work environments.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, said the programme was designed around the belief that young people are capable of achieving more when given the right opportunities and support.
“We think you’re capable. That’s why we designed it. Today you have successfully shown the world that you are capable,” he said.
The minister also challenged the graduates to view their training as the beginning of their professional journey, rather than its end, encouraging them to embrace continuous learning and gain experience in the workplace.
A major feature of the programme is that graduates are not leaving the training centre with certification alone, as each graduate is also being provided with a full set of tools relevant to their respective trade.
For graduate Sadiki Thompson, completing the programme represents an important step towards building a career in the skilled trades.
“The training gave me practical skills that I can use to earn an income and build something for myself. I am grateful for the opportunity because I now have a qualification, the knowledge and the tools to go out and pursue opportunities in my field,” he said.
The graduation underscores the government’s commitment to investing in Guyana’s human capital by ensuring young people have access to market-driven skills and meaningful pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.