Approximately 856 youths participated in the Youth Apprenticeship Programme launched by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry earlier this year even as plans are being made to increase this number in the coming year to 2000.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai made this disclosure on Monday when asked by Guyana Times International for an update on the programme.
Sukhai said that the programme has been of great benefit for Amerindian youths in the hinterland and is expected to expand to other communities in the coming year.
The minister said the achievements made through this programme are exceptional and have seen more persons expressing an interest of getting involved.
“They are contributing to village development. We have community service officers (CSOs), attached to various sectors… they are engaged at the village council level, project implementation,” Sukhai stated.
The CSOs also provide leadership to the community councils and are involved in record keeping, mobilising communities, improving community infrastructure, assisting daily with monitoring solar units, building roads and fixing water pipes, among several others.
While admitting that there is a high level of unemployment in the hinterland region, Sukhai said that the programme is helping in a major way to bridge this gap. The ministry has also received requests from Amerindian communities on the coastal region.
Sukhai said that the ministry is yet to examine the requests, as it is felt that youths in Amerindian communities in the coastal region stand a greater chance of being employed, as against those in the hinterland region.
However, Regions Two and 10 have indicated their interest, which the ministry is looking at and could possibly roll out the programme there to help many Amerindian youths who are seeking employment/ training.
The programme encourages youths to contribute to nation building and community development. It focuses on building skill sets and creating a mindset that will foster and encourage entrepreneurship.
Amerindians youths who are given work stints through the progamme, receive a small stipend as CSOs, and are placed on a six-month work attachment with either a private or public sector entity.
