BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Trust for the Americas, a non-profit affiliate of the Organization of American States (OAS) has officially launched its youth web portal for the Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA) project this morning (Feb. 16) at its Washington office.
The launch of the portal www.poetayouth.org was made possible through the joint venture of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and POETA in the Eastern Caribbean. According to the POETA, the portal is a key component of a regional initiative designed to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support knowledge sharing among
Caribbean youth. It is also expected that the website would integrate life skills training with ICT skills training, and raise awareness among policymakers of the critical role ICTs play in development.
The website serves as an “important tool for interactive communication and education among young people in the Eastern Caribbean and beyond”. Not only is the website intended to facilitate communication among youth in the region but it will also feature innovative online civic education training and will enable youth to have their voices heard by decision-makers and stakeholders.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, OAS Representative to St. Kitts-Nevis Starrett Greene indicated that the launch signals the availability of this portal for use by POETA Youth participants, young people in the region and other organizations wishing to participate in the “innovative tool”. He added that private sector companies are invited to highlight social programmes, internships, and job openings on the portal.
“The project [POETA] seeks to create and provide technological skills to disadvantaged young people to empower them to find meaningful employment. So far, we have trained dozens of young people in the Federation, many of which are now doing placement jobs. So, it is clear that this project is beyond theory; this will prepare them for the work place. It is really a practical workplace where young people are literally learning and getting jobs through the application of computer knowledge.
“This launch [of the portal] is an extension of the POETA programme which encourages continuity in the programme. This allows youth who had already passed the POETA basic course to be able to communicate with similar individuals across the region and share their experiences from the programme.
It provides the ideal virtual space for past, current and prospective participants to network and challenge each other in learning more about ICT, which is very important for these young people.”
Launched in 2008, POETA is a youth project designed to train 100 individuals in the area of Information and Communication Technology. The OAS initiative is particularly offered to disadvantaged youth across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and addresses the importance of civic pride, proper social behaviour and professionalism in the workplace.
