Youths trained to find?and keep?jobs
Finding a job in Belize is never easy in the best of circumstances, but at this time of year, with newly minted graduates pouring onto the job market, the situation is especially tight. That’s why the preparation being given at Youth for the Future is more valuable than ever. Patrick Jones reports.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The thirty young people taking part in Operation Positive Reinforcement are learning how to get a job… and keep it. According to Consultant Douglas Hyde the initiative is a joint project of Youth for the Future and the Police Department designed to lessen crime and violence in Belize City.
Douglas Hyde, Consultant, Operation Positive Reinforcement
“This is our fourth training here today, working on self awareness and job preparation. One of the crucial things we realized out in the streets are young people, unemployed. At Youth for the Future, we have a specific unit the Enterprise Unit that assist and try to find jobs for young people. Operation Positive Reinforcement works along with enterprise. We will go out there, recruit the young people, and Enterprise will train them and prepare them for the job site.”
The youths come from different areas of the City, and include dropouts and high school graduates who are looking for work. Those we spoke with at today?s training say all they want is a chance to become productive citizens.
Kevin Rowland – Job Trainee
“I really just want wah lee job. And I try my best same way to come here and try see if I could get myself wah job because I no wah deh pan the street and have to end up the thief people because I like be honest and work for my own. So during the day I know it wah benefit me.”
Leandro Roches, Job Trainee
“I’ve recently been released from the prison and I need to help myself in life, do something much better, more positive, you know, with my life. I’ve been gong to prison for quite a while now and I think is time I put all that down and try an elevate myself.”
But while the private sector is being is being asked to open their establishments to these young people, Hyde says each prospective employer gets a Y.F.F. guarantee that their time and money will not be wasted.
Douglas Hyde
“The preparation training is one of the next steps and then finally we meet with these young people and we get things that they need, like for example the Social Security cards, their identification cards, police records, other stuff that they need for the job site. We go through every step with these young people, ensuring the job places that the young person they are getting dah no wah raw young person. The young persons at least have some kind a backative to support themselves and the training kinda help the young person recognize that these are things that they need. Because a lot of them believe that they don’t need Social Security card, they don?t believe that they need a police record and these are some of the requirements needed for a job, noh.”
The training is being conducted by Merilyn Young of the Government’s employment agency. Today, the youths were taught how to prepare for a job interview, communication skills, and anger management. Roches and Rowland both say the training will help.
Kevin Rowland
“Like how fi like, conduct yourself and thing when you go pan the job site and thing, you know, dah that we di go through right now.”
Patrick Jones
“What kind of job are you looking for?”
Kevin Rowland
“Noh really matter weh kind of job, once if I know how fi do the job, then I no mind fi do it, you know.”
Leandro Roches, Job Trainee
“I think this is a very positive movement that they are doing right now.”
Patrick Jones
“Would you encourage other youths to do it?”
Leandro Roches
“Of course. I always do it, from the time I came out. I talk to all the young youths that I meet you know. Not to fall into the trap that the other youths back there dem inna right now you know, because right now the prison no nice at all, it kinda rough, you know.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The trainees were also given a session on HIV/AIDS by the Health Education and Community Participation Bureau. The Operation Positive Reinforcement training sessions are conducted every two weeks at the Youth for the Future office in Belize City.
