The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana through the Kuru Kuru Training College, will be offering vocational skills training to Venezuelan migrants in an effort to make them employable.
IOM representative on the Department of Citizenship’s Multi-Stakeholder Committee, Mr Denish Persaud, made this announcement today at the stakeholder meeting, which was held at the Department’s boardroom. The Committee is tasked with monitoring the Venezuelan migrant situation in Guyana.
According to Mr Persaud, the courses would be initially offered in Georgetown and Pomeroon–Supenaam (Region Two) and the curricula would be translated into Spanish to facilitate a better learning environment for the Venezuelans. However, the aim is to include Guyanese students so that there can be integration.
Persaud noted too that the entity is looking at medium and long-term solutions and, if the response from the migrants is encouraging, then the programmes would be rolled out to other regions, where there is also an influx.
The courses will commence in August and will run for six to 12 weeks in the areas of garment construction, refrigeration, air conditioning repairs and maintenance, building and construction, welding, food safety mechanisms, and electrical installation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Protection will soon begin a Shock Responsive Social Protection System, aimed at ensuring the essential needs of 20 Venezuelan families are met to lessen the impact of multiple deprivations that are faced by migrant and host communities.
Based on the agreed areas of support, which may include support for their rent or provision of school supplies, the Ministry will facilitate services to the families for payment of up to $50,000. The monies would not be handed over to the families but will be paid to suppliers who provide the needed services.
This initial system would be available to migrants who are located in Georgetown.
Additionally, it has been announced that the Ministry of Social Protection will specifically target persons who have no or inadequate income or sources of income to ensure that their basic needs are met; mothers and fathers or other legally appointed relatives who are the primary/principal caregivers for a child or children under 14 years; persons who are legally landed in Guyana and are willing to be registered to legalise their status and migrants, particularly those over 18 years who agree to attend an appointment and agree to be registered with the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA).
It is expected that all beneficiaries will be registered with the Ministry and will be constantly monitored to determine the progress of the families and the status of children in school.
Moreover, the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will work with the Social Protection Ministry to provide support in the documentation of the successes and lessons learnt from this initiative.
