A Skills Training Programme for Single Mothers of Orange Walk East

Kevin Bernard

Bernard is also the P.U.P. standard bearer for the Orange Walk East constituency. He has also been working on a skills training programme that is being offered to single models across the division. Bernard says that the entrepreneurial training is to help the thirty-plus persons into becoming independent. According to Bernard, during his campaign, this was one of the main concerns by the constituents.

Kevin Bernard, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Orange Walk East

“We already have a few single mothers who have signed up. This will focus on cosmetology, culinary arts, whether you want welding or plumbing, horticulture. These are areas that we are talking about and we are trying to target people from the different areas in Orange Walk East; the town, Santa Marta, Carmelita, Tower Hill, Chan Pine Ridge, Palmar—females from these areas that want to learn a trade. We are going to be placing these people into a business location where they will learn for a six-month period and thereafter, when they leave from there….for example, if someone is into sewing, then they will leave with that equipment so that they can start their own business if they would like to. Those in culinary arts, cosmetology; these people will take advantage of these training. The training of course has its cost, but the participants would not have to pay for any of these things. So it is all part of us providing an opportunity for our single mothers.”