65 Tobago youths to embark on Trade Trek

SIXTY-FIVE youths from Tobago have embarked on the Division of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport's (DCDYDS) “Trade Trek.”

Trade Trek is the division’s newly-coined, “ProYouth” umbrella, specifically catering to school-leavers, out-of-school youth and those who are unemployed, a news release from DCDYDS said on August 20.

The Department of Youth Development launched the first cycle on August 13, at the Scarborough Library, as part of the mandate to empower Tobago’s young people holistically.

The release said the young people, from communities across Tobago, have “embarked on the journey of a lifetime in the discovery of their true potential.”

Trade Trek will expose participants aged 16-25 years to three days of interactive training and two subsequent months of apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience in a range of technical vocational areas.

These include: hairdressing, construction, auto mechanics, electrical, domestic refrigeration and more.

This makes it a unique addition to the expansive list of social interventions headed by the Department of Youth Development.

Secretary Joel Sampson said his personal experience with the technical vocational skills sector had a positive impact on his life. “Holistic education is very important to me, because not everyone is well-suited to academics.

“Learning a trade is something that can sustain you for a lifetime. Before I got into politics, programmes such as these are what led to a career that helped me feed my family. This is your opportunity to start a new chapter in your life.”

Assistant secretary Wane Clarke encouraged those present to give the programme their best effort.

He said, “Thank you for agreeing to take on this challenge on the road to creating a better life for yourself, and by extension, a better Tobago. Give it your best and go forward confidently.”

DCDYDS administrator Afeisha Melville McKain urged participants to keep an open mind, and grasp opportunities as they present themselves.

“Take advantage of this opportunity to learn as much as possible. The orientation exercise you are about to embark on is not just to get you ready to learn the trade, but also to learn some life skills because the goal is, once you have the training, this will help you to be better able to monetise it going forward.

“We are here to help you. We are here to empower you and we’re also going to help you further your skills with some apprenticeship placements.”

The release said the youths present were excited about the road ahead. and several indicated their interest in businesses such as hairdressing, air conditioning repair and others as their reason for joining the programme.

It added that they had already undergone “three days of life skills training from August 13-15 on topics such as: goal-setting, financial management, introduction to tools and equipment management, time management and more. Immediately following this, the trainees were placed under the watchful eyes of experienced practitioners for two months, as they hone core practical competencies necessary for success in their chosen fields.

“They will also receive a stipend.”

Trainees who complete the programme, the release said, will receive certificates and be part of a graduation ceremony where they will share their experiences and new-found abilities.

Participants will be introduced to other options to further their development, either via continuing training or through job opportunities, it said.