Project STAR has trained more than 140 residents in Salt Spring, St James, through its skills training and job-readiness programmes aimed at boosting residents’ employability across various industries including hospitality and customer-facing roles, according to Kelly Griffith, the project’s training and job placement team lead.

Griffith said 110 people have gone through job-readiness sessions covering résumé writing, interview preparation and workplace expectations, and have successfully received employment opportunities. She added that a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helped place others through cash-for-work and cash-for-care opportunities in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa where residents from western communities such as Salt Spring were severely impacted.

She gave the update while addressing a recent town hall meeting organised by Project STAR and held at the Salt Spring New Testament Church, where updates on the project’s progress in the community were presented and residents provided feedback on areas for improvement.