A youth policy that facilitates the holistic development of youth over time to ensure that they become employable, marketable, and productive citizens.
This is the goal of the youth programmes implemented by the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service.
Speaking on the NOW Morning Show on Monday, Line Minister Foster Cummings explained how their programmes focus on training from heavy equipment operation to arts mentorship and agriculture.
He highlighted the Homestead Programme that has already trained 1,400 budding farmers.
“You would know that we have the Homestead Programme. Our pilot area is in Chatham, and we’re giving two acres of land, and a starter home, and a Grant of $20,000. This follows, of course, a rigorous training period, certified training at UTT, where they would spend one year at ECIAF UTT, and the following year they will go on to a sort of apprenticeship arrangement with the different farms of these master experienced farmers. So, when you get on your land, you are pretty much able to take off.”
Informed by consultations with Youth Councils, MYDNS also offers non-refundable entrepreneurship Grants and several certification programmes, like CARES.
“The CARES programme, which we do in conjunction with the Cipriani Labour College, which treats with the persons I was speaking about earlier who may have two or three O’ Levels and do not have a full certificate. And, again, this programme has been significantly oversubscribed, and persons come into that programme and get free tuition to take them up to a full certificate status.”
Minister Cummings reiterated that this type of youth development promises to have a direct and positive impact on overall national development.