BASSETERRE ST. KITTS (March 3, 2010) -- Fifty-five computer and hospitality skills graduates of Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) Programme were on Monday, March 1, brought together at the St. Paul’s Community Centre, as they embarked on the second phase of the training.
The enthusiastic students were introduced to the two-month course by YES Programme’s Field Officer, Joseph O’Flaherty, who explained that it would familiarise them with the basic elements of customer service that are a prerequisite at the workplace. The course includes lessons on understanding business environment.
Manager at the YES Programme Secretariat, Leslie Connor, informed the students that they would be certified at the end of the two-month course, but key to achieving that goal would be attendance. He was accompanied by Vaughn Edmeade, also a field officer with the YES Programme.
“To be certified there has to be a minimum 80% attendance,” observed Connor. While saying he expected the best of them, he reminded them that their conduct and dress code both in and out of office could determine their promotion at the workplace. “Be of best behavior and avoid conflict.”
Also addressing the trainees was June James, a member of YES Programme’s training and implementation committee. She informed them that whatever skills in customer service they would gain from the course would help in their working life, reminding them to take it seriously as “they (instructors) are not running a baby care class but are here to impart knowledge to assist young people to acquire skills to function in the job market.”
The class has been split into three groups, where instructor Seana Williams will be in charge of group one. Maaisha Liburd will be in charge of group 2, and Cliota Crossley will be in charge of group 3. The course will run Monday through Friday from 9am to 1 pm for three sessions per day, and instructors will rotate.
Two instructors will handle the customer service aspect of the training while one will handle the business aspect. When given chance to address their new students, Seana Williams complimented them on their punctuality, Maaisha Liburd requested them to make the course an interactive one, while Cliota Crossley implored them to learn more and participate more.
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