46 CSOs to start IT training on Tuesday

Some of the residents at the meeting held at the Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has said 46 Community Support Officers (CSO) will start training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Tuesday.

The trainees are drawn from the 46 communities that were selected for the wider CSO programme from which some 400 youths are currently benefitting. The youth are all engaged in training related to their various fields of interest and are being paid a monthly stipend of $30,000.

CSO Programme Co-ordinator at the Ministry, Mr. Besham Ramsaywak told DPI on Friday that the programme has started in most communities and is running smoothly so far. He explained however, that a formal launch was not possible due to COVID-19 preventative measures in place.

Mr. Michael Thomas, Toshao of Aishalton, one of the 46 villages selected, said the Village Council had selected 10 persons to participate in the CSO programme.

The selection process required that youth indicate their interest to the Council after which the most outstanding among them were selected.

The youth were engaged in two sessions and they were informed of the Terms of Reference and other requirements of the programme.

They have already started functioning in their different fields of interest.

The CSOs will serve their communities in the areas of Education, Health, Sport, Governance and Community Relations.

On its assumption of office, the PPP/C administration made good on its campaign promise to restart the programme, which it initiated in 2014 under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP).

YEAP had targeted some 2,000 youth between the ages of 16-40 in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

It formed part of the PPP/C’s work programme for the development and advancement of Indigenous youth.

The reintroduction of the CSO programme will replace the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, which was introduced by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Administration.

The HEYS programme ended in 2019. When the PPP/C returned to office in August, it found that while there were a few successful businesses under the HEYS programme, the overall objective of the programme was not being realised.

Youth in the CSO programme will also be given an opportunity to interact with leaders of the National Toshaos Council in the near future.