In a grand affair at the Grenada Trade Centre on Monday July 1, 2013, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Ecclesiastical Affairs hosted the commencement ceremony for the first batch of youth, who will be starting their training, as part of The New IMANI programme.
Senator and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Ecclesiastic Affairs, Sheldon Scott, warmly welcomed and encouraged a packed hall of at least one thousand youth and other attendees, at what was a well-attended and significant milestone event for youth and for the Government of Grenada. After months of very careful planning, the New IMANI programme has begun in earnest.
Among the many persons in attendance at the commencement ceremony were the Prime Minister, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, Ministers of Government, Senators, Parliamentary Representatives, Permanent Secretaries, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Didacus Jules and other important stakeholders.
During the ceremony the New IMANI programme was again explained in detail by Coordinator of Youth, Mr. Kevin Andall, who described it as a programme that would meet the needs of every youth, no matter how many times they might have been unsuccessful before, regardless of what their last level of education was. He explained that there are several pathways that youth could take in this programme to achieve and succeed, following the mandatory three-month Self Development period. He explained the new partnership with CXC, which allows youth who do not have a certificate in Math or English to attain those qualifications from CXC, as part of the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) programme, which will be made available to youth who need to access it during their time in The New IMANI programme. He also explained that many other options include Apprenticeship, Direct Skills Training, Enterprise (Small Business) Training, re-direction to Scholarship opportunities and permanent employment.
Because of The New IMANI’s expertly structured components and its relevance to youth needs, The programme is already viewed as a potential model programme that could be used and adapted regionally. Consequently, it has attracted the attention of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC.) Dr. Jules flew in from Trinidad specifically to celebrate the occasion of the The New IMANI commencement ceremony, with Grenada. In his speech, he stated his optimism upon seeing the sheer number of youth who have decided to embrace The New IMANI and encouraged them to continue to educate and qualify themselves, as CXC works along with the Government of Grenada to ensure their success.
Mr. Lincoln Morgan, Director of the Grenada National Training Agency, also reaffirmed his support for the training component of The New IMANI programme, stating that there was already a successful partnership between the NTA and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Ecclesiastical Affairs, which is already paving the way for the certification of Grenada’s youth. He also encouraged the youth by reminding them that if they are committed, they will definitely succeed at achieving their goals.
Shaliza Dragon, a new trainee in The New IMANI programme also delivered an inspirational speech, in which she highlighted the benefits of a good opportunity and encouraged her peers to be grateful for and make the most of the opportunity presented. She finally went on to encourage applicants who were not among the first batch to commence training, by urging them to remain patient, because their “day of redemption” was near.
The Minister for Youth, Sports and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Hon. Emmalin Pierre, once again encouraged all the youth beginning The New IMANI to make the best of the opportunity extended. She also thanked her fellow members of Cabinet and other stakeholders, such as CXC and the NTA, for their partnership and support, which she believes will help to change the lives of Grenadian youth in a positive and impactful way.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell was very pleased with the enthusiasm of Grenada’s youth in embracing the programme and pledged his support to ensure that their needs are met and that new options will be explored to provide as many new opportunities as possible to the youth of the nation.
Amid the informative formal presentations, there was lively entertainment provided by four young, talented vocal acts, Valene Nedd, Reesa Mc Intosh, Sonika Mckie and Dennison Andrew, who performed vocal renditions which encouraged, inspired and rejuvenated those in attendance.
Young faces were alive with interest, enthusiasm and expectation, as they made their way out of the Grenada Trade Centre at the end of the session, to prepare for next day’s start of Self Development classes, which will take them to the end of September. Following that, their choices are many and their pastures will certainly be green. Following the end of their Self Development training, their peers who still await their start date, will soon, as Ms. Dragon alluded, experience their “day of redemption”. Meanwhile, they wait with bated breath and high expectations of The New IMANI programme.
