LIFE S

KILLS &

VOCATIO

NAL TRAIN

ING

PROJE

CT

A join

t pro

ject

bet

ween C

anad

a’s D

epar

tmen

t for

Fore

ign A

ffairs

& In

tern

atio

nal Tr

ade

and th

e Rot

ary

Club o

f Sta

broek

, Guya

na

Febru

ary

– Mar

ch 2

013

FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE PROJECT

Canada’s Department for Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

Rotary Club of Stabroek

PARTNERSHIP FOR PROJECT EXECUTION

The Chairman, Councilors and residents of the La Grange, Bagotville, Nismes NDC

Selected members of the business community

The staff of the Bagotville Library

THE INITIAL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The “Life Skills and Vocational Training Project” was designed to specifically target unemployed and vulnerable youth and single parents of the La Grange, Bagotville, Nismes Communities.

WHY THESE THREE COMMUNITIES? RCOS has been supporting literacy

development in the community for over four years

Actions of children prompted formal surveySome children:

Had difficulty focusing Had difficulty retaining Were lethargic

Survey revealed underlying need for interventions

TARGET PERSONS

Individuals – Male and Female

Between the ages of 16 and 35

Who left high school without finishing

Who are currently unemployed

Who are confused and troubled and need

motivation to overcome their struggles

REFLECTION

“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

HOW STABROEK CONNECTED WITH THE PARTICIPANTS

Prior to the commencement of training, a decision was made to interview each participant for entry into the program. Weekend after weekend Rotarians sat down with these wonderful women mainly to have them answer one simple question, which was “Why do you want to be part of this program”. Rotarians were not prepared for the answers received, but at the end of the interviews, this project became very personal for them.

HOW STABROEK CONNECTED WITH THE PARTICIPANTS

The participants, all women, each had a story. They wanted their stories to have a happy ending and so they were ready to turn their can’ts into cans and their dreams into plans. They were hungry to learn, they had ambition, they were all ready for the future. All they

needed was an opportunity and that was what this project provided for them.

AREAS IN WHICH TRAINING WAS PROVIDED:

22 females were trained in sewing and fabric designing Curtains Bedsheets & Pillowcases Mosquito nets Clothing Fabric painting

AREAS IN WHICH TRAINING WAS PROVIDED

5 females learned the joinery trade Measuring wood Cutting Sanding & Buffing Assembling Painting/Spraying/Lacquering Tile cutting and laying

It must be noted that the joinery trade is a male dominated skill area in Guyana. Not a single male registered for this training.

AREAS IN WHICH TRAINING WAS PROVIDED 32 females benefitted from

Lifeskills/Counseling Four-petal Seven-shaper model

o Biology of the bodyo Self-moving abilityo How thinking affects and shapes feelingso How feelings can shape one’s behavior

Johari’s Window on the Self Positive parenting Understanding adolescent development

AREAS IN WHICH TRAINING WAS PROVIDED:

32 females were participated in Etiquette training Handshakes Posture and leadership Non-verbal communication and

body language Dining etiquette Formal and casual table settings

This project which was initially targeting males and females evolved into one of empowerment for women

IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL Equipped with skills that will lead to

employment Practice positive parenting Can start a small business Can have more income for the family

which will lead to a better quality of life

Empowered to become productive and self sufficient

IMPACT ON THE FAMILY More employed members in

the household Greater economic stability Improved family

relationships Better able to understand

and deal with the children

IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

New businesses operating within the communities

Create employment Positive influence on others Help neighbors and friends

with their emotional challenges

THE TESTIMONIESThis program has built my self esteem and has opened opportunities to better my tomorrows Onica Thompson

Learning to sew and attending the etiquette and counselling sessions have enabled me to build my self confidence Nalini Dowlat

Learning to sew has set the stage for me to open a small business Evette Abrams

I enjoyed the sewing classes but attending the joinery classes has empowered me to open my own joinery shop Thekla Douglas

Learning sewing has empowered me to open my own business Genepha Carrington

I am looking forward to the future. The program has assisted me to be independent Iashae Jones

The sewing and fabric designing classes have motivated me to become self reliant Nicola McKenzie

My improved sewing skills will help me to save money Wanita Bynoe

The sewing and counseling sessions have helped me with my self esteem. I would love for the program to continue Samantha James

LESSONS LEARNED

The importance of having a full time administrator who resides within the community and who can provide continuous monitoring of project activities

Getting to know the participants. Conducting the interviews motivated the Rotarians even more and the participants were encouraged because they felt that the Rotary Club cared about their success.

This project evolved into an empowerment project for women

Men did not take advantage of this opportunity

MAIN PROJECT SUCCESS/DISAPPOINTMENT

SUSTAINABILITY

Follow up graduates from the project

Promote this project as a model for other communities in need of similar interventions