Contributed Photos
LEFT: Managing director of YES, May Elizabeth Lawrence (centre), has an animated conversation with students at the institution recently.
CENTRE: Lee Young Sinclair, a graduate of the Youth Enhancement Service programme is now the manager of the front office department at the Royal Decameron All-Inclusive Hotel and Spa in Montego Bay.
RIGHT: Andrea Nelson, at work at the Youth Enhancement Service office in Montego Bay. Her life was transformed through the intervention of the YES programme. She has secured a job and a bright future.
Glenis Rose, JIS Writer
MONTEGO BAY, St James:
About six years ago, Andrea Nelson was a pregnant, confused young woman, trying to figure out what her next step would be.
One day she decided to accompany some friends who wanted to register for a personal development course in Montego Bay. She wasn't sure what it was all about, but just going along was enough to distract her from her own unsure thoughts.
Soon they were inside the Youth Enhancement Service (YES) building and Nelson realised for the first in a long time that maybe there was an opportunity for her.
"I was four months pregnant and was there listening to the information my friends were getting about the programme and suddenly I became interested," she said.
Ssecond chance
The belief that we all deserve a second chance in life is the core of the YES programme and a number of youngsters like Nelson in the Montego Bay area are truly shouting YES!
The programme, whose creed states, 'I am the best person that God has created at this time to build Jamaica', helps mould and rebuild young lives.
"Before long, I was recruited for the customer service and personal development course and dedicated myself to this programme for three months. I must confess that my self-esteem grew in leaps and bounds. I even did my work experience at the YES office," Nelson proudly shared.
Training
During this time, she received training in clerical and work-placement procedures. Nelson was appointed placement coordinator, a job she has occupied for some five years. She is from the first batch of graduates.
"It is so exciting for me to find placement for someone and to see them smiling. It brings joy to me," said the soft-spoken 27-year-old.
Lee Young Sinclair also graduated from the YES programme (2005) and his strides of achievement are something to talk about.
Within one year of his employment at the Royal Decameron hotel in Montego Bay as front office assistant, he is now managing that department.
"During my training at the YES Institute, I was taught about character, leadership, communication skills, how to groom myself for the workplace and so on. The programme is a good one and I can recommend it to youths my age or even older persons," said Sinclair.
YES, the brainchild of May Elizabeth (Betty) Lawrence, was established in March 2002. It first opened its doors to some 27 female students at 17 Market Street in Montego Bay. Students attended classes on the first day to receive training in customer service and personal development, a course of study certified by the National Council on Technical, Vocational Education and Training.
Job placement
Six years later, students - male and female - numbering some 850 have been trained with a job placement rate of 85 per cent.
Currently, about 86 students are receiving training and counselling in the seven divisions headed by six full-time administrative staff members at the new location, the Victory Building on Fort Street in the Second City.
Lawrence said that Vision Makers World Reach was formed as the umbrella organisation to house several projects with the focus mainly on the development of youths through the YES programme, the first project to be launched.
"Some time afterwards, we added customer service, front-office training, housekeeping and computer training. We have, apart from the skills training, a mandatory character-building curriculum called 'Youth at the Crossroad' developed by Campus Crusade for Christ.
"It's character building and deals with sexuality, responsibility and respect. Crossroad helps with the transition into the work world," explained Lawrence.
What better way to showcase success than to incorporate those trained into the system. Other examples of this can be found in programme coordinator in the professional-edge computer training department, graduate Troy Wallock, and Sheena Stewart, who was front-office agent for more than a year. She was recently promoted to administrative assistant.
"The programme is an excellent one carried out in a superb environment, which has helped me to develop as a person. I am happy to have been a trainee here and now that I have gained this promotion, I will be seeking to impact positively on those young people who will be coming here to prepare for the world of work," promised Stewart.
Director of Vision Makers World Reach, Stephen Lawrence, gave up a lucrative career in the hotel sector to establish a housekeeping training service (Ultimate Service Hospitality Training) for young persons in search of sound training and qualification in housekeeping. He finds a sense of accomplishment in training and guiding countless youths who are now gainfully employed.
This is a special collaborative feature of The Gleaner and the Jamaica Information Service. Email feedback to editorial@gleanerjm.com or regional@jis.gov.jm.
