Five graduate from CED training course

Five young women have successfully completed a training course in Basic Manicure and Pedicure – sponsored by the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. Business Gateway Project.{{more}}

On Thursday, December 16, Nelequa Antoine, Jose Matthews, Donnette Peters, Kesheika Prince and Shandel Woods received their certificates at a graduation luncheon held at the Fairview Hotel.

Shirla Francis, Permanent Secretary in the former Ministry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology & Industry, encouraged the graduates to further develop their talents.

“Use this as a stepping stone to create wealth for yourself and your families,” Francis said. “Don’t sit with the knowledge and tools you have been given. Use it towards your self-development.”

Francis advised the young women to combine their new-found skills with their individual creativity towards becoming self-employed.

“Think outside of the box. Your business will grow,” she urged.

Francis noted that the women, who reside in rural areas, are uniquely poised to take advantage of this growing industry because there are not many beauty salons outside of the capital (and surrounding areas) that offer pedicure and manicure services.

“Women these days like to look well,” Francis pointed out. “Even men are having manicures and pedicures, too!”

The Permanent Secretary also congratulated the course facilitator Kathleen Wright on helping the graduates to achieve success.

Wright, owner of the Bamboo Resort and Spa, located at Arnos Vale, said that she is committed to sharing her knowledge with young people so that they can use it to improve their lives.

She added that the training the graduates received would aid in their personal as well as overall development.

“It was my pleasure to train these ladies,” remarked Wright.

Simone Murray, Manager of the Business Gateway Project, congratulated the graduates on their achievement and encouraged them to take advantage of the upcoming training programmes being offered in 2011.

“Learning is a life-long experience,” Murray insisted.

She also announced that the graduates will receive starter kits so that they can set up their own businesses providing manicure and pedicure services.