The monstrous plague of gender-based violence continues to destroy families and leave women in particular, to struggle to meet their everyday needs and those of their children.
The Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre, located in Berbice, has once again collaborated with the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to provide much-needed income generating, social and other skills to empower single parents, especially women, and youths for entrepreneurship, the job market and, ultimately, a better quality of life.
For women, the centre offers a 12-hour weekly training in cosmetology and catering, inclusive of cake decoration and garment construction. These four-month courses are scheduled to end by Nov. 21, 2013.
The current third batch of trainees, through this government-sponsored programme, benefits from educational sessions on sexual and reproductive health, and on entrepreneurship, for a total of 40 hours. The basic business skills complement the income-generating skills to prepare the women to establish and manage their own business.
Additionally, like the past trainees, this present batch will benefit from the Women of Worth (WOW) loan– an incredible programme established by the Ministry of Human Services. The trainees are motivated by past beneficiaries’ accomplishments who benefited from the WOW initiative.
A monthly $4,000 travelling stipend is provided by BIT. This is part of the package provided by the Government of Guyana to ensure every woman benefits from the training provided.
Attendance and punctuality are vital components of the training, as they are necessary for certification by BIT. Monthly reports as to content covered, attendance registers and competency assessment of each trainee are all submitted to BIT.
The centre also targeted out-of-school youths whose training includes Mathematics and English. They benefit from a travelling stipend of $6,000.
This programme presented a major challenge at the centre as there was an influx of youths for training in cosmetology. Catering was the second choice for most of the trainees. However, the centre ensured that those who were willing to work hard received the opportunity to empower themselves.
Participants were reminded that Roadside trains for life, and that attitude, quality and mode of dress are key areas that determine success or failure. Everyone was excited to be able to benefit from this unique opportunity offered to only a limited number of persons– 36 youths and 20 single parents.
The centre is focused on giving youths a second chance for a formal and/or higher education. Over the years, the literacy one-on-one adult programme has benefited and equipped beneficiaries either for self-gratification, empowering them to assist their children, or to move on to the upgrading English and Mathematics programme.
The remedial education programme has provided the opportunity for entrance to the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre, admission to a secondary school after a test administered by the Department of Education, Region Six, or for admission to the upgrading English and Mathematics programme in preparation for CSEC if so desired.
This new academic year is no different. Some from the last group of the remedial education class have moved on to Tagore High School and to the Industrial Training Centre at Kingston, Corriverton. They are some who are working with the Skeldon Sugar Estate, have small businesses or are self-employed.
Roadside is once again proud of their instructors and learners who sat the May/June 2013 examination securing 84.6 percent passes in English A with Grades 1–3 and 75 percent with similar grades in Mathematics. The instructors, Indrowattie Autar (English) and Darveena Prananand (Mathematics) had quite a challenging task preparing students for CSEC. However, the dedication and methodology of the caring instructors motivated the learners, which notably contributed to their success.
Regular meetings with parents of the learners are part of the package for the remedial, upgrading and CSEC programmes.
“The board and staff take the opportunity to congratulate the students who have done well in the 2013 CSEC examination, and wish them all the best as they pursue their goals. Sincere gratitude is also expressed to the instructors of the CSEC English and Mathematics for their patience and commitment. Most importantly, we thank the honourable Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the board of directors of BIT for recognising the centre as an institution worthy of implementing such a project, and to the coordinator and staff of BIT for their full support. We look forward to their continued support. We encourage the present batch of trainees to take full advantage of the training and the WOW loan. Roadside also extends congratulations to the single female parents who benefitted from similar programmes and are now enjoying a better quality of life,” the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre committee stated gratefully in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.
Enrolment is currently ongoing for the new batch of the CSEC English and Mathematics programme. For more information on the centre’s programmes call 338-4215 or 338-4213.
