Wavel Benjamin receiving a CDACT Certificate of Excellence in Performance. Wavel will achieve a CVQ Level 2 Award.
TRAINEE’S BACKGROUND
Meet 25 years old Wavel Benjamin of St. Patrick, the most northern and rural parish in Grenada. He has completed high school, is passionate about sports and plays semi-professional cricket for Grenada. With SkYE’s support, he has completed a Restaurant Server CVQ Level 2 training at the Centre for Development and Certification Training Centre (CDACT). He reflects that since graduation from high school, “I didn’t have fixed employment but between cricket engagements, I would hustle side jobs”. As a graduate of a Government of Grenada youth programme he acquired advanced sportsmanship skills and was involved in sports training for children. This he used to harness opportunities within sports, but he did not hold a technical skill certification.
SKYE TRANSFORMING LIVES
“My involvement in the SkYE Programme started when a CDACT advertisement aired during a cricket match on TV. My mom, who works in the field of hospitality suggested that I should enroll for the programme since it was off-season for cricket. At first, I had no interest and delayed deciding for some time. Eventually, I registered due to her persistence and realizing that it is better than doing nothing. Now, I understand the advantages of having multiple skills and I love hospitality. I now help with domestic chores more often, such as cooking at home. Wavel has realized wider benefits of his training: “I can see changes in the way that I interact with others – I am more confident. I make better decisions and I handle conflicts better”. Also, he added, that the training has enhanced his people skills even as a sportsman and more importantly, he shares his new knowledge during community-planned activities. “My family has seen the changes as well and commended me. I think that I am a better person since completing the course and I look forward to continuing my internship after COVID-19 restrictive regulations.”
ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Wavel’s perspective on the future is that “Hospitality is a thriving sector within our country and there is a wide scope of possibilities, I am eager to learn more and someday specialize in an area but for now, I would like to learn as much as possible during my internship”. He considers himself to be a slow learner academically and would highly recommend this training for any young person because he did it and was one of the most outstanding students of that cohort. Furthermore, he affirms that the training does not only provide a skill but also enhances a person’s personal development. He hopes to continue his story with SkYE beyond his internship and employment.
FACTS
The Skills for Youth Employment (SkYE) is a four year, UKaid-funded programme to provide certified skills training for 6,000 disadvantaged young people, including those challenged by disability, in four Eastern Caribbean countries: Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines. The Programme will develop a more productive and inclusive workforce in sectors with good economic growth potential.
SkYE is supporting national training authorities and training providers to make systemic improvements to the development, delivery and quality assurance of technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in the four focus islands through targeted capacity building.
