Twelve Youths Complete Apprenticeship Program

Twelve youths are on their way to becoming young professionals after completing the Positive Moves Apprenticeship Program. The program, which is a collaboration between the Community Rehabilitation Department and the Labor Department was created in order to provide effective educational social support, a dynamic job preparedness training, and a correlating three-month apprentice placement to youths who may have difficulty entering into the workforce due to social settings. The program began in November 2023 and concluded today with an award ceremony. We attended the event to learn more about the program. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Community Rehabilitation Department is the government agency dedicated to the development and implementation of prevention, rehabilitation and diversion programs aimed at first-time offenders, juveniles in conflict with the law and those at risk. With this demographic in mind, the CRD developed the Positive Moves Program in order to provide support for youths who may face difficulties when trying to achieve their future goals. CRD’s program coordinator, Courteney Zelaya told us more about it.

 

Courteney Zelaya, Program Coordinator, CRD

“So today what we’re doing is celebrating the success of our 11th apprentice, our department, which is the Community Rehabilitation Department, which falls under Ministry of Human Development. Because primarily we work with at risk youths and that specific population. We have embarked on this program just to help support them in terms of employability and what makes our program different is that we provide the wraparound services. So it’s not only job placement, but we try to focus on the individual and meeting psychosocial needs, supporting them in terms of goal orientation and things of that nature.”

 

 

Zelaya explained that participants received training at partner businesses such as Digi, Caribbean Tires, Save-U, Belize Water Services and others, where they were able to learn about the dynamics of the work environment in order to ensure success. As a result, nine of the twelve participants have even received full-time employment.

Courteney Zelaya

 “So for four weeks they were a part of a job readiness program along with personal development where they receive just a basis of what to expect at a workplace work etiquettes, professionalism, things of that nature. And then also help to provide some type of guidance in terms of goals. And making that reality relatable based on what is presenting to them in their environment. So today we celebrate that success because we had a really big turnout out of the twelve apprentice we placed, nine have received full time employment. So we just want them to know that their efforts and dedication, is seen, and we’re so proud of them and all the hard work that they did.”

 

 

Zelaya explained that participants are chosen based on a social assessment where their background, as well as their level of commitment is evaluated.  Another workshop with twenty-three more participants is starting on Monday. We spoke with recent participant, Carleen Staine, to hear how this experience has impacted her.

 

 

Carleen Staine, Participant

 “It has been a life changing experience, being that I have never had a job before. I was just working for my mom because she has her own business. So, this has been really life changing for me in the sense that, I will be out there and I will have a sense of having my own job and know how the real world is.”

 

 

Staine stated that although it wasn’t always easy, she believes that anyone motivated can do it.

 

Carleen Stain

 “I know that I will be getting older now and I will need to have my own income, so that really moved me.”

 

Reporter

“And I understand a new batch is coming up shortly. Any advice towards, for them?”

 

Carleen Stain

“Well, words to them, I would just say keep your head up because I mean, for us, I know it wasn’t really a smooth ride for us, but nevertheless, we all stuck it out and see we’re here now.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.