The Y.W.C.A. launches a new training program for young men

The Y.W.C.A. today launched a special training programme at its headquarters on Saint Thomas Street in Belize City. It is called the Y’s Enterprise Creation and Extracurricular Development Project, which will offer skills training to unemployed young men in the city. The programme will simultaneously boost the institution’s Helping Early Leavers Program (HELP) that prepares young women as entrepreneurs.  A grant of approximately one hundred thousand U.S. dollars from the US’ Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) was handed over to the institution to fund the training. Freelance reporter Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and thirty-five U.S. dollars to be exact was handed over to the Y.W.C.A. to fund the September launch of a project that will provide young men with skills in barbering, personal development and mentoring.  President of the Y.W.C.A., Sheree Smiling-Craig, says that the programme will equip the participants with the tools to start their own business.

Sheree Smiling-Craig

Sheree Smiling-Craig, President, Y.W.C.A.

“Approximately a hundred thousand U.S. dollars to help barbers in particular along with students who would not have had the opportunity to complete high school to develop skills. Barbers will be taught barbering courses and some small business development courses while the HELP students which are mainly girls who have not completed high school will be taught sewing and cooking and small business development. And our aim is to empower these young people to have a better future, to develop their skills and to start their own business or to become better employees for somebody who may require their skills.”

The project is being funded by the U.S. Embassy through the Central American Regional Security Initiative. U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Vinai Thummalapaly says that his mother was one of the founders of Y.W.C.A. in India in the 1957. And so when the opportunity came up, the Y was asked to submit a proposal.

Vinai Thummalapaly

Vinai Thummalapaly, U.S. Ambassador to Belize

“The U.S. Embassy has a long tradition of collaborating with the Young Women’s Christian Association. Several months ago our colleagues in Washington D.C. elated??? us of a grants opportunity. We immediately thought of our friends at the Y.W.C.A. in Belmopan. Soon after we reached out to Miss Linares; she drafted a submitted a winning proposal—one which received funding from the Central American Regional Security Initiative, CARSI. Through grants like the one we are acknowledging today, local organizations supported by the U.S. government provides economic development, skills training and citizens security community projects throughout Belize.”

It is a project that is giving at risk youths an alternative to crime. A beneficiary of the project is eighteen year old Steve Gaynair, an aspiring barber, who says he would advice others to sign up.

Steve Gaynair

Steve Gaynair, Barber Student

“To me barbering is one of the easiest ways to start as an entrepreneur. I find the programme as something we can start at home and then hopefully you can build. I want to be the type of barber where somebody can say bwai he got it. Word of mouth advertizing and that is something that I am looking towards to see. The course is not only about barbering, but it will teach you about different stuff like how to die, how to bleach and different sort of stuff. So I would advice more students to come and take the course. It’s nothing hard; it is just something that all we young men can do to just stay out of the streets.”

The Enterprise Creation and Extracurricular Development Project will certify its participants.

Sheree Smiling-Craig

“We’re taking this programme to a higher level; we are helping them to become certified so that that they will be more better able to earn higher income and also to develop their skills. Applications are available; we have a few spaces available. The programme starts in September and by the end of next year we should be seeing some results from the programme. And once the programme has expired, we do intend to continue with the programme. It will be included in the Y’s programme of activities. So it will be on a continuous basis.”

Projects like these, Smiling Craig says will also generate income for the Y.W.C.A. Duane Moody for News Five.

In addition to training in barbering and mentoring, the training will provide education in public health, sanitation and personal development.