By Suraj Narine
Nestled in a quiet corner of St. Sidwell’s Anglican Church on Vlissengen Road, scores of young men from various walks of life converge. Within these walls, distinctions of race, wealth and status fade away, leaving only individuals united in their aspiration for personal growth. There, they find a safe space to learn a marketable skill, exchange their views and acquire the agility they need to navigate life’s challenging journeys. Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) is the driving force behind this transformational and refreshing initiative.
The non-governmental organisation has been at the forefront of providing opportunities and fresh starts for young people for more than a decade. This time, the agency, in collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana, is conducting a six-week electric installation course to benefit more than 30 young male participants.
YCG’s Director, Dmitri Nicholson said the course takes on a multipronged approach. He explained that the programme not only focuses on electrical installation but also provides an opportunity for participants to acquire lessons about the dangers of domestic violence, and substance abuse, as well as the importance of proper money management and effective communication.
“The training that we are offering is electrical installation as a hard skill that these participants can use to find jobs or become entrepreneurs. The other component focuses on soft skills or life-skills, which include effective communication methods, public speaking, self-management, self-awareness, home and personal finance management, and other lessons that help to improve who they are as young men,” the Director said.
He noted that participants are drawn from all parts of the country and come from communities as far as Linden. He added that while the programme is open to persons from all quarters, emphasis is placed on “low-income” communities.
At the end of the course, participants will be given a certificate that shows, among other things, the number of hours in which they have participated. This, according to Nicholson, provides the participants with the bragging rights of having some experience. This, he explains, increases their chances of acquiring jobs.
Aside from that, he noted that internships are also on the cards for participants.
“We have some partnerships that exist from internships. DD Engineering, George Austin Electrical and Andrew’s Electrical are among the companies that we will be sending young people to develop their skills on the job,” he said.
The trainees benefit from lectures given by Joel Anthony and presentations from private companies and government organisations such as the Electrical Inspectorate Office, National Bureau of Standard and the Consumer Affairs Commission. Legal presentations are conducted by Sase Gunraj and Co.
Director Nicholson said that the programme is one of more than 10 that were rolled out since circa 2013 in collaboration with ExxonMobil. He said this ongoing exercise is the third one tailored to address men’s livelihoods.
The YCG Director is of the firm view that such programmes can help to unravel societal ills and create a sturdier foundation for young men to be more productive sons, brothers, husbands and overall, citizens worthy of emulation. Moreover, Nicholson noted that these skills can help to eliminate violence in at-risk communities. This is the overarching objective of Youth Challenge Guyana.
Nicholson said that the response from participants has been inspiring, with notable changes in their behaviors.
Guyana Standard visited the church on Friday, where Nicholson delivered a riveting lecture. The session was interactive with each participant allowed to share their contribution, as the YCG Director, void of extravagant language and condescension, delved into the traps of addiction, compulsive spending, the art of proper budgeting, tips on saving and dealing with peer pressure. It was like having a discussion with a trusted friend. The participants were eager to learn and share.
One of the participants, 22-year-old Reon Walcott spoke glowingly about the initiative, hailing it as a timely one.
“A notice was forwarded to me in a Whatsapp group about this course and I decided to take it up. You know, they say, ‘opportunity comes only one time’ and I didn’t want to miss it,” the young Lindener said.
While travelling to Georgetown is challenging, Walcott emphasized that the rewards outweigh the distance.
“At the end it will be great, and I know that I will be successful, because at this point, I really have a lot that I want to accomplish. So, this course will help me secure a job that is stable so I can work to achieve my goals,” he said.
As for 18-year-old mason, Vickash Khelawan, the opportunity to acquire an additional skill is one that he jumped at without hesitation. He now takes time off from his work to attend YCG sessions. But more than that, the teen said that the soft skills, particularly conflict resolution and proper money management are his main takeaways from the programme. Prior to signing up, Khelawan said that he was faced with “complicated” familial issues, but he has since been able to navigate these matters safely and has even been successful in sharing what he has learnt.
