40 persons start PEP-financed cosmetology and hospitality training programme in Nevis
(CUOPM) The St. Kitts and Nevis Federal Government’s People’s Employment Programme (PEP) has turned its training focus on the island of Nevis.
The PEP in a statement Friday said that the first batch of 40 trainees have started courses in cosmetology and culinary arts on Monday November 11 at the Jessups Community Centre.
“This is the first training session for the People’s Employment Programme here in Nevis,” said PEP coordinator in Nevis, Ms. Kerlyn Jones.
“In St. Kitts they have several training sites in cosmetology, in hospitality, in construction, masonry and others. So this morning for us to launch officially our training for cosmetology and culinary arts, it is a great day,” she said.
Each course will have twenty trainees, but at the opening ceremony only 26 were present as the vetting process for the others had not been completed.
However, according to Ms. Jones, all had reported by Thursday, and on Friday November 15 she was to take the two groups through life skills training.
A respected veteran regional trainer, Nevisian Mr. Hensley Daniel, has been retained as the PEP Training Coordinator for Nevis.
Mr. Michael Henville is the facilitator for the culinary arts programme, while Ms. Shauna Browne is the facilitator for the cosmetology programme.
According to Ms. Jones, cosmetology training will be from 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Thursday, and the culinary training will be from 1 pm to 6 pm on the same four days. On Fridays the two classes will be combined to undertake life skills training, starting at 9 am, with guest facilitators coming in to talk to them.
She advised them that if for any reason they experienced difficulties during the programme, that they overcome it “and think about what’s at the end of the training: When you get that piece of paper to say that you are certified and that you can go anywhere and get that job that you know that you want, and you have a skill that will be with you for the rest of your life.”