For 23-year-old Britney O’Brien, graduating from a skills training programme represents more than completing a course. It is the first step towards turning her passion for cooking and baking into a business.
O’Brien, who completed training in baking and pastry-making from April to August, said the experience equipped her with new skills and the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship.
“I learned so much about baking pastries, cakes, and even bread. It was really wonderful because our lecturer was patient in going through each class step by step for us to understand,” she said.
Looking ahead, O’Brien said she intends to turn her newfound skill into a small-scale enterprise, utilising the Guyana Development Bank, which is a great initiative.
Electrical installation graduate Lionel Ramsay is also looking to turn his training into an independent career, building on the skills he gained from his father, a technician, and the course he just completed.
He encouraged other young people to take advantage of similar opportunities, noting that the courses are free and provide a pathway to self-improvement.
“I think everyone should take this opportunity, because it’s a very good opportunity, plus it’s free,” he pointed out.
Similarly, Alicia Goddett, who completed her training in Information Technology, expressed appreciation for the opportunity. She explained that the training has boosted her confidence in the technology arena.
Goddett encouraged other Guyanese to utilise the opportunities being offered through the Board of Industrial Training, noting that every new skill learnt brings you closer to a better life.
The experiences of O’Brien, Ramsay and Goddett reflect the government’s wider investment in equipping Guyanese with practical skills and creating pathways to entrepreneurship and employment.
At the graduation ceremony, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith highlighted that of the 95 people who graduated, 70 were women, underscoring the growing opportunities being created for women to gain financial independence through skills training.
Minister Griffith said the programmes represent a significant investment in people, with the government allocating $25 million for skills training.
He noted that the investment amounts to approximately $172,000 per graduate in cosmetology and $125,000 per graduate in preparation-related training, with the overall investment for the 95 graduates approaching $8 million.
“The government is passionate when it says that we are aggressively investing in our people so that everywhere you go, everywhere you live, you will be able to bring transformation and development to your community, to your family, and to yourselves,” the minister stated.
The minister urged the graduates to position themselves to benefit from Guyana’s expanding economy by registering their businesses, joining business organisations and preparing to access financing opportunities through the Guyana Development Bank.
The investment, he said, is part of the government’s broader effort to ensure that Guyanese are equipped with the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the country’s development.