MEET ANDRE BERNARD
Andre grew up in a small Dominican rural community which offered limited employment opportunities aside from the usual small-scale subsistence farming. As a result, like many underprivileged young men, Andre sought survival and sustenance through illegal activities which led to his incarceration in Dominica State Prison.
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES
Andre receiving a toolkit with craft tools after successfully completing his training.
Undoubtedly, Andre’s attitude and outlook on life has shifted from a life of drug trafficking and gun crime to one of positivity after he was exposed to many encouraging influences. One most recent and meaningful impact was through the SkYE supported Wood Craft Training that was facilitated by the Youth Development Division in
Dominica.
The Wood Art Instructor, Mr. Francis Richards, described Andre as his most enthusiastic, outstanding and changed trainee, who eagerly looked forward to his imminent release from prison when he would return to his community and demonstrate that he is a changed person and is capable of meaningfully contributing to his family and community.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Andre says, “I see the SkYE training as an opportunity to improve my employability and self-reliance. I also believe it can contribute to reducing poverty by equipping me with skills to start my
own enterprise.
FACTS
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.
