Old Road Graduates Thirty Two In Basic Information Technology Skills Training

All Graduates

ZIZ News November 09, 2010 – Thirty two residents of the St. Thomas Parish graduated from a thirteen week Information Technology Skills Training Project on Sunday November 06th at a quant family focused ceremony at the Old Road Community Center. This project was funded by the Basic Needs Trust Fund and implemented by the National Skills Training Programme in collaboration with the Old Road Community group C.U.E.T (Community Upliftment and Enhancement Team).

The Information Technology Skills Training Project Phase III began on July 12th and completed on November 04th with a seventy four percent (74%) completion rate, despite weather and power outages. Acting Director of the National Skills Training Program, Mrs. June James commended the participants for their commitment to the project by staying the course despite the many challenges. She congratulated the participants, ranging in age from 18 to 66 years old, for their continued commitment to lifelong learning.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Information, Mr. Osmond Petty commended the organizers for the project and congratulated the participants on their completion. The purpose of the training spoke to educational development which Mr. Petty stressed was the “surest way to alleviate poverty in St. Kitts.”

Ms. Azilla Clarke, Community Liaison Officer of the Basic Needs Trust Fund reminded the participants of their responsibility to use the new skills to advance their personal and professional lives, to continue to advance their skills and to return in three months to report on the successes and struggles experienced. She indicated that this project was the third such training opportunity implemented in St. Kitts and that its future outreach was dependant on the participants reporting on what has happened since their graduation.

Implementation Team

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Theodore Brown indicated that they benefitted greatly from the opportunity and thanked instructor Mr. Melvin Agard for going beyond the call of duty with his students. Mrs. Jacqueline Delaney commended her facilitator Mr. Christopher Herbert for his patience, his ease of teaching and the home environment he created during his sessions.

Chairperson of C.U.E.T. Mr. Melvin Agard used the opportunity to update the residents of Old Road and the wider St. Thomas Parish on the projects undertaken and being planned for the residents. He recalled the clean up exercise that removed tones of garbage from the community in time for the busiest segment of the hurricane season and encouraged all to participate in the programs for the youth to be implemented next year. These include a reading program, information technology training and a health and wellness program utilizing the community gym.

The program included renditions from the children that were cared for while their parents were engaged in the classes as well as other talented residents of the Old Road/St. Thomas parish. At the end of the evening, each participant received their certificate of completion from Mr. Kurt Lewis, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information Technology, Sports and Post.

The Basic Needs Trust Fund is a poverty alleviation programme jointly funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Its offices are located on Victoria Road and for additional information be sure to access their website at www.bntfskn.com.