More than 120 persons from Ocho Rios and surrounding communities benefited from a much-needed skills-training symposium held last Wednesday. The Ocho Rios district of Seventh-day Adventist Churches, in collaboration with HEART Trust/NTA, hosted this initiative dubbed 'Skills for Life'. The event was hosted under a tent, pitched several metres from the Ocho Rios Seventh-day Adventist Church in St Ann.

The six-hour workshop had resource personnel from the HEART Trust/NTA, the College of Hospitality and Vocational Skills and the Rotary Club Skills Training Centre. Seminars and demonstrations were conducted in entrepreneurial skills, career development, food and beverage preparation, electrical installation, cosmetology, landscaping and healthy lifestyle.

"I am very happy for this. I previously received training in welding and construction and I am now seeking to be certified. So you could say that this is an answered prayer because it is easier for me to access the information without travelling too far," said Monique Samuels, one beneficiary of the event.

Encouraged event

Dudley Hosin, pastor of the Ocho Rios district of churches, encouraged this event as part of a Healthy Living Evangelistic campaign.

"We are happy that as a church, we could partner with HEART Trust/NTA. This organisation has the skills and tools for training, therefore, assisting us to meet the needs of so many in our church and community who are in need of work," he said.

"This skills symposium is held at an accessible location so that individuals have no excuse not to come and learn how to become independent and self-sufficient; particularly at this time when jobs are becoming scarce and there is need for persons to become multiskilled or multitalented for survival."

"So far, the programme is good. I am here to learn and to get certified by HEART, the more training and qualification I have, the better I can take care of my family," said Trecia Nelson.

Delroy Williams, employment facilitation officer at HEART, said that over 79 persons had registered with HEART through the initiative.

"We want to ensure that those who have signed up are placed into training. We have found persons who are already skilled and are trying to get an assessment done. And interestingly enough, these individuals have years of experience in their areas and can be assessed on the job or within our institution without going into the whole gamut of everyday training. We are going to focus on them and help them," said Williams.