89 youths get vital labour skills through training |19 July 2022
The trainees in a souvenir photograph with guests at the end of the ceremony (Photo: Joena Meme)
Eighty-nine trainees from Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have received their certificate after successfully completing their training under the Skills Development Programme (SDP) in 2021 with the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs.
The certificate presentation ceremony was held on Friday last week at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) in the presence of the Minister for Employment & Social Affairs, Patricia Francourt; the principal secretary for Employment, Jules Baker; representatives of work organisations, family members of the trainees and other senior staff of the Employment department.
The SDP allows youths between the ages of 15-17 years who have not had the privilege to graduate at either secondary or post-secondary levels to undertake skills development training at various work organisations for 6 to 18 months. The training enables them to make successful transition into employment at the various areas of demand on the labour market. The programme also helps to address youth unemployment.
Throughout these months of training, the young people have not only enrolled on the job training in their respective work area but they also attended various soft- skills training and short courses that helped to enhance their competencies and skills related to their field of training. The soft skills training and short courses equipped them with new skills, increased their knowledge and developed the attitude they needed to pursue in their future careers.
The trainees followed training and mentorship in construction, maintenance, administration, clerical work, health, climate adaptation, landscaping and in tourism services and in education, among others.
Out of the 89 trainees, 57 are in employment, some have gained entry in post secondary institutions while a small minority is still in search of a job.
In her welcoming remarks, Minister Francourt said that the ministry was very proud of the young trainees’ achievements which have been marked by dedication and sacrifices on their part.
She stated that the programme is supplying skills to the labour market and is helping to also address youth unemployment, which as at 2020 was at 16.5%.
She said that the SDP continues to be one of the main strategies by the Employment department to address unemployment among young people. This scheme acts as a stepping stone to gain skills to compete on the labour market. It also empowers the young people to be resilient and have the right attitude and aptitude to undertake their work diligently.
Minister Francourt noted that from January 2020 to December 2021, a total of 691 participants were registered on the programme out of whom 514 were placed on job training. From these, 166 have successfully completed their training, 97 have secured employment and that includes the 57 in employment among the 89 trainees. Last year a sum of three million rupees was allocated to the SDP which was spent on payment of allowances, bus passes as well as the facilitation of soft skills training to prepare the participants for the workplace environment.
Minister Francourt congratulated the trainees for their achievements and also called on them to always show a positive attitude towards their work and the people around them.
She told them to put what they have learned in practice for their own benefit and for the benefit of the country while seizing all of the opportunities made available to them to move forward.
She added that government will continue to support youth development and she thanked the partners for partnering with the ministry for the success of the programme.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of her colleagues, Tira Dubignon, who is currently employed as a waitress with Le Duc De Prasllin, thanked the government, through the ministry, for coordinating and funding the programme to ensure a decent development of the youth in the country.
She said that the trainings have given them new skills and knowledge in order to improve their employability on the labour market.
She also encouraged other youths, who have just finished secondary schools and are finding it difficult to find a job, to join the programme.
During the ceremony, there was a testimony by 19-year-old Shelly Anamole on her training journey to become an office assistant, a job she is holding at the Seychelles National Heritage Resource Council, ex-Seychelles Heritage Foundation, Au Cap.
She said that she will continue to take opportunities to further her education to improve on her career.
There were also a poem by trainees Julio Georges and Shelly Anamole and song performances by Taniah and Sandra.
Patrick Joubert