Forty Guyanese are now equipped with skills in Automotive Electrical, Electrical Installation and Cosmetology, following their graduation from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) at a ceremony held at the Regency Inn Hotel.
The graduates completed four-month training programmes designed to provide them with marketable skills and greater opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with several graduates and the facilitator of the Automotive Electrical programme, who highlighted the value of the training and the opportunities it has created.
Among the graduates is Sheanyu Sealey, who completed the Automotive Electrical course after developing an interest in mechanical work through her family’s background in the field.
Sealey said the programme not only strengthened her technical knowledge but also provided an encouraging environment in which she felt supported as a woman entering a traditionally male-dominated field.
“If a man can do it, you can do it as well. It’s all about a mindset. If you can put yourself to do it, you can do it. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t,” Sealey stated.
For Electrical Installation graduate Antonette Tinnis, completing the programme was particularly significant as a single mother of four who travelled to attend classes.
Tinnis said the opportunity allowed her to gain the practical experience needed to build on her existing interest in electrical work, while motivating her to pursue further training.
“It is better to learn more, grasp what you can grasp, and at least I can actually teach my children certain things, because skill is built,” she explained.
She also welcomed the opportunity provided through the Ministry of Labour and BIT, noting that similar training elsewhere could come at a cost.
Automotive Electrical graduate Riyaad Allie said he entered the programme with little prior knowledge of the field but gradually developed a strong interest after receiving support from his facilitator and classmates.
“Everybody was so kind. If you don’t understand, he can go back at it till you understand.”
Fellow Automotive Electrical graduate Aditya Ramdial described the training as an important first step towards establishing a career in the field.
Having entered the programme without prior knowledge, he said he now feels ready to seek employment, gain experience and eventually acquire the tools needed to work independently.
“I would say, I feel comfortable with saying I’m a beginner. I am looking forward to gaining experience and learning the trade.”
Ramdial encouraged other young people to take advantage of opportunities to discover careers that align with their interests.
“Make a start. There is always something out there that you can find that you will enjoy working on. I always say to look for a job that is also your hobby.”
Facilitator of the Automotive Electrical programme, Amar Ram, said the four-month experience went beyond technical instruction, as he and his students developed a strong relationship built on mutual respect and support.
“These are individuals who started out as students, but very soon into their programme, we became a family. Very respectful, very smart. So that was a big encouragement to me as a facilitator,” Ram shared.
Ram said the programme is also focused on developing qualities that can help graduates transition successfully into the workplace, including character development, personal wellness, mentorship and preparation for employment.
He explained that his commitment to helping graduates secure employment stems from his own experience of receiving support early in his life and his desire to extend that investment to another generation.
“We not only train, mentor, discipline, we also advocate for them. I actually go to employers and market these bright talents and begin some communication.”
According to Ram, several graduates are already employed, while others are being connected with potential employers and prepared for job interviews, with three expected to be interviewed by a local business in the coming week.
He encouraged young people to recognise their potential, set achievable goals and take responsibility for their development.
“Each one of us has God-given potential within us. Do careful self-evaluation. Don’t look at others as an excuse for not getting up and getting it. Set one small goal, devise a strategy to accomplish that one goal, and give yourself a timeline.”
The graduation represents another step in efforts to equip Guyanese with practical, industry-relevant skills while opening pathways