The Youth and Adult Training for Employment (YATE) Programme officially opened a new office in Kingstown on Friday, February 3. The office, located opposite the ministerial building that housing the Postal Corporation’s office offers a range of personal skill development services through a $10 million programme.

Director of the National Qualifications Department, Endall Johnson

During the official commissioning ceremony, director of the National Qualifications Department, Endall Johnson said programmes such as YATE and SKYE are providing new, non-traditional learning opportunities to Vincentians and the organization is making every effort to facilitate these programmes.

“We have retrofitted all of our labs to bring them up to industrial standard because of all of these projects that we are having…so all of these projects put together have changed the paradigm of education and workforce development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Johnson said.

The YATE programme, which is a component of the Human Development Services Delivery (HDSD) Project funded by the World Bank, has provided training to more than 1000 participants from across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

The programme places particular emphasis on providing specially tailored opportunities to vulnerable groups within society such as persons with disabilities and young mothers.

Representative of the World Bank, senior economist, Suhas Dattratraya Parandekar

Representative of the World Bank, senior economist, Suhas Dattratraya Parandekar in his remarks at the ceremony said the programme depends on people with motivation, “the drive to make something happen and to improve your skills and capabilities”.

He thanked the participants, instructors and coordinators for their input and contributions to making the programme a success.

The YATE office is open Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. (API).