ST.JOHN'S Antigua, March 29th, 2012 -- The GARD Centre (Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development) has received US $89, 075 from Japan in its efforts to construct a Training Facility on the premises.
The project entitled “The Project for Construction of Skill Training Centre for Vulnerable Youth” was signed today at a ceremony at the GARD Centre at Gilbert’s.
Executive Director of GARD Center Roberta Williams praised the project saying, “it is this project which is giving young persons who have dropped out of school, single young mothers and other youth who are unemployed or under-employed, a second chance.”
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have also partnered with GARD. According to Williams, this partnership further builds the capacity of the Centre to help vulnerable youth.
Masanobu Yoshii, the Counselor at the Embassy of Japan spoke of his country’s decision to provide the grant and also stated that this is the second Grassroots Project Japan is signing on to for Antigua, the first having being signed the same month as the Grant for GARD centre.
Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology Dr. Hon. Edmond Mansoor spoke of the Government’s and Ministry’s commitment to assist the GARD Centre empower young people. The Ministry of Information currently has a programme that offers internships to graduates and students from the Centre.
Dr. Mansoor also spoke of an ICT Cadet program that will be rolled out by the Ministry in 2012 which will enable 75 students to participate in a one-year ICT job-training program.
Through the Grant assistance from the Japanese, two new classrooms will be constructed including one which will house the 20 computers donated by the Ministry of Information’s Technology Initiative.
The project will provide valuable skills training for the youth as well as open up opportunities for employment.
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