Hoping to develop local communities, the new, one-of-a-kind Shulinab Industrial Arts Centre in Rupununi is ready to tap into growing construction markets
The recent establishment of the Shulinab Industrial Arts Centre, financed by the New Zealand government, focuses on carpentry and joinery at Shulinab in South Central Rupununi, and enables community members to tap into the construction industry and capitalise on the growing market at Lethem and in Brazil.
The centre, formally presented to the community by the New Zealand High Commission Head of Mission Fund on July 4, boasts a new purpose-made building and wood storage facility, with electrical power tools as well as other necessary equipment, tools and accessories that will allow it to operate efficiently and competitively with other professional carpentry enterprises in the region.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Alfred Fredericks, community development officer in Region Nine, Lethem Sub-District, said the centre is the only one of its kind in central and southern Rupununi.
“The centre caters for persons who need to learn much more about carpentry, and equips them with the necessary tools to do so. The village council is looking at school leavers to get them involved and keep them occupied at the centre. We want to help them learn a new skill so that they can have that earning power. School children have also expressed interest in learning at the centre and we are looking into facilitating them,” Fredericks disclosed.
Shulinab Industrial Arts Centre is the nearest workshop to Lethem, where construction activity is booming since the opening of the Takutu Bridge between Brazil and Guyana. The residents of Shulinab are cognizant that the centre has provided a unique opportunity for them to tap into the growing market.
Fredericks said that the project builds on the success of a previous industrial arts training centre built near the school in 1991 as part of an education initiative facilitated by a local NGO.
“That was a small initiative at the school. This new facility is more established and has modernized equipment, which is vital for the people of Shulinab to develop their skills in carpentry. They are producing chairs, tables, doors and other furniture to sell back. It is a timely facility as it benefits the entire community,” he noted.
The training centre in Shulinab has been a popular and successful operating unit, accommodating some six to 10 primary school students on weekdays (during and after school hours) and, partly due to the efforts of a skilled instructor, it now has an above average number of youths with basic carpentry skills.
“The goal of the project is to try and stop our young people leaving our community. The new centre will provide high quality vocational training and income generation opportunities, but also allow them to participate and contribute to the development of their own community,” Toshao Vibert Ignace said in an earlier press release.
The Toshao described Shulinab as a progressive community that is always looking for development opportunities that would benefit its members.
Nick Fredericks, treasurer for the council, explained in the press release that the community used this project as an opportunity to learn project management with the support of the volunteer technical advisor Eddie Doyle.
In his statement, Nick Fredericks pointed out that he hopes this initiative will be a model for community development in the future. However, he added, the correct level of technical support is essential for communities to execute and manage these programmes in a sustainable way.
According to the press release, Roddy Rebeiro and Jason Larose were the two senior project team members who were involved in all aspects of the project design, construction and equipment selection. Both men are looking forward to the challenge of operating the centre.
Rebeiro mentioned the first thing that must be done is to win a contract for supplying school furniture for the community of Shulinab and other villages. He cited that residents must prove that they are better than other professional businesses.
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