79 young people graduate from YEST Programme with technical skills

Seventy-nine young Guyanese are now better equipped to enter the workforce after successfully completing a four-month technical training programme under the Youth Empowerment and Skills Training (YEST) initiative. The graduates were recognised on Saturday during a ceremony held at the National Culture Centre, where they received training in five key technical areas: welding, carpentry, plumbing, masonry and electrical installation. Upon completion of the programme, the participants earned a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level One certificate, equipping them with practical skills and knowledge relevant to Guyana’s growing demand for qualified artisans. The YEST programme is designed to provide young people, including early school leavers, with both practical and theoretical training to improve their prospects for employment, further education and entrepreneurship. Through initiatives such as YEST, young people are being given opportunities to develop marketable skills while helping to address the shortage of trained technical workers in various sectors across Guyana. Beyond technical training, the programme incorporated basic mathematics, English, information technology and entrepreneurship, while exposing participants to field activities, community projects and practical work environments. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, said the programme was designed around the belief that young people are capable of achieving more when given the right opportunities and support.

“We think you’re capable. That’s why we designed it. Today you have successfully shown the world that you are capable,” he said. The Minister also challenged the graduates to view their training as the beginning of their professional journey, rather than its end, encouraging them to embrace continuous learning and gain experience in the workplace. A major feature of the programme is that graduates are not leaving the training centre with certification alone, as each graduate is also being provided with a full set of tools relevant to their respective trade. For graduate Sadiki Thompson, completing the programme represents an important step towards building a career in the skilled trades. “The training gave me practical skills that I can use to earn an income and build something for myself. I am grateful for the opportunity because I now have a qualification, the knowledge and the tools to go out and pursue opportunities in my field,” he said. The graduation underscores the Government’s commitment to investing in Guyana’s human capital by ensuring young people have access to market-driven skills and meaningful pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.