Low-income women to benefit from masonry, mechanics, other training
Two hundred and fifty Guyanese women are expected to benefit from a non-traditional skills training programme which will be implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE). The project is aimed at increasing the level of skilled labour available in Guyana by widening access and employment opportunities to low-income women through the delivery of specialised skills and programmes. The project is being conducted simultaneously in Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The programme in Guyana will cost some US$600,000, while the overall cost for the four countries was estimated at US$2 million. Five consultants who are in Guyana to establish the Guyana leg of the project, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Indra Chandarpal, on Wednesday to brief her about the project and what it entailed for Guyanese women. A statement made to the media by Glenyss James, the local co-ordinator of the programme, said that it was expected to result in: * A training model that will enable technical/vocation training institutions and organisations to deliver skills training programmes that respond to labour market demand and supply; * Strengthened labour market information systems; * The creation of linkages and the development of cost recovery and other mechanisms that will enable training institutions, such as the private sector and community organisations, to offer sustainable training programmes to low-income women. James was optimistic that the women in Guyana would benefit from the programme, which, according to her, would also be a boost to the private sector. According to the statement the training programmes will be conducted in six-month cycles and will cover skills training in technical and vocational areas, gender issues and lifestyles coping skills. The areas that would be touched are: construction, which will incorporate masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation, painting, tiling, brick-laying and site clerking; woodworking and furniture making including cabinet making and production of wooden toys; automotive services including auto mechanics; and industrial maintenance. The first cycle of training in Guyana will be carried out in Georgetown by the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) and the Government Technical Institute (GTI). Training in the other regions of Guyana will be carried out in subsequent cycles. The Red Thread Organisation has been selected to assist in the development and implementation of the project in non-technical areas including gender training, life coping skills, literacy and numeracy. Red Thread was chosen on the basis of its proven track record in conducting women's projects over the years, the release said.
 Follow the goings-on in Guyana
|