YATE participants ask for support from Vincentians

Participants in the Youth and Adult Training for Employment (YATE) Programme have appealed to Vincentians to buy their products, noting that lack of support and competition from imported items are among their biggest challenges.

On Friday, June 2 ,the $10 million YATE programme hosted an exhibition at Heritage Square where it showcased various products made by participants on the programme who were trained in electrical installation, welding, general construction, cake baking and decoration, commercial food preparation, garment production, aquaponics (crop production) and soft furnishings.

CONSULTANT WORKING as a satellite under GTI Sofilia Blucher

Instructor Lindon Frederick told SEARCHLIGHT that electrical installation and teaching are his passion so working in the YATE programme has been a fun experience for him.

“And it’s good to learn more and more … different techniques, different styles and keeping up [to] date with all the standards, practices, techniques…”.

He was pleased with the “enthusiasm throughout the practice because this is actually a collaborative effort from two … different groups, and they came together to produce this phenomenal piece of work that is displayed today,” referring to the different lighting circuits for domestic installation being showcased by the participants at the exhibition, that took place at Heritage Square.

Satellite consultant in garment production at the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI), Sofilia Blucher said the programme is a great opportunity for persons to earn an income.

“… If we look in St Vincent now, although we are producing a lot of seamstresses and so on, they’re still not at the quality in which they’re supposed to be, so this programme [is] supposed to help with that in terms of teaching them international standards and Caribbean standards and so on.”

HOME AND FURNISHING Instructor Debbie Barbour

However, she said that there are participants who do not really appreciate the programme, while on the other hand, there are those who take the opportunity and make something of themselves from it.

Graduate from the garment production course Natasha King, who has recently launched her own business, Perfect Fit 784, is one of those who have greatly benefited from the YATE programme, noting that she has gained exposure from it. “…[The programme] has let people know that there is something for young people who might be unemployed to learn a skill and give them meaningful employment,” she told SEARCHLIGHT.

However, King pointed out that the fashion industry in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is very competitive, and she feels that Vincentian designers are overlooked.

“Most people love to shop online, Shein, Fashion Nova- and I believe that … [events] like this can expose us a little bit more so people can see what we have to offer and take advantage of our local designers here.”

Home furnishing trainee Suzette Edwards, shared the same sentiments as King on the challenges having to compete with foreign markets.

“… As Vincentians can see … the quality, you can see the work that is done, and I think it’s fair that we support our locals because foreigners always tend to get more attention than our locals, and sometimes our locals are better than the foreigners,” said Edwards. She added that marketing her products would present a great opportunity because of the limited range of soft furnishing products in SVG, and she will also get the opportunity to share her knowledge with others.

Debbie Barbour, instructor at the Kingstown Technical Institute also joined the participants in encouraging Vincentians to support the local entrepreneurs as the products that are usually sold in stores tend to be limited in their designs.

“I would encourage them to support… [the locals ] because they could have their own unique look personalized for them, and there’s a big difference. If they do not want what everyone else has got, this is the way to go because they could work with a designer and create their own look for their home.”

Home furnishing, which Barbour said is “all about the fabric of making a home”, saw the participants displaying such items as table linen, table runners, table mats, and napkins.

HOME FURNISHING Student Suzette Edwards with her table set design

She said the aim of the class is to have the candidates start their own home furnishing business as they are also being taught interior design so the participants can be very creative and combine a lot of their designs.

“…I think Vincentians have come a long. We’re seeing a lot of new homes being built and people want that fresh look, and they want it uncluttered, they want clean lines, so it’s up to the students to put a portfolio together and to sell their own unique looks.”

Barbour said that she has encouraged her students to take advantage of holidays such as Christmas to market their products and is urging Vincentians to support them.

YATE is designed to train unemployed youth and adults in CVQ Level 1 programmes to provide quality, competency-based certification.