Guyana has 20 new youth small business owners, as a result of support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) Program.

Word of the program’s impact came from USAID Mission Director for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Christopher Cushing, during a recent event to honor the graduates of the program’s Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) component and recognize the public and private sector partnerships that drive the Program’s impact.

In his remarks, Mr. Cushing noted that 2,200 youth received workforce training and over 700 found new or better jobs as a result of SKYE. He added that 200 graduates continued formal studies and more than 80 youth benefitted from alternative sentencing approaches under the juvenile justice strengthening aspect of the program. Mr. Cushing also lauded the overwhelming support given to the program by both public and private sector employers, and noted that private/public partnerships are central to USAID’s development assistance programs. He stressed: “Investing in youth is essential if we are to reverse the trends of youth involvement in crime and violence. Statistics indicate that regional youth unemployment ranges from 20-40 percent, while there’s a growing trend of increased youth participation in crime and violence across the region. It is for this reason that the United States Government remains committed to investing in the lives of youth, especially those who are most at-risk.”

The SKYE program is implemented by Education Development Centre (EDC) and has four components – Detention Prevention; Welcome Home; Get Ready for Work, and BYOB, which provides youth with the requisite training, support, and start-up kits to launch their businesses. The recent BYOB graduates, who now own businesses ranging from hairdressing to poultry farming and web development, credited the USAID-initiative for placing them on the path to success.

Among the graduates was 21 year-old Tashanna Frank. Ms. Frank said the training and mentorship was critical to starting her pig farming business. As the proud owner of Tashanna and Son Pork Supplies, she was a far cry from where she was a few years ago when she was struggling financially and had no means of owning her own business.

“My experience with SKYE has been overwhelming and my next short-term goal is to be involved in a youth outreach program so that I can encourage young single mothers like myself to follow their dreams, be independent, and to be involved in projects like SKYE so that you can open windows of opportunity for yourself,” the young woman passionately stated.

22 year-old Brandon Singh completed SKYE’s ‘Get Ready for Work’ training and is now a constable in Guyana’s Police Force. He explained his success: “Today I am enjoying my life and I know that my life would have been different if I did not join SKYE…I would encourage youth to choose wisely, work hard and you can make your dreams come true.”

Stanley Ming, CEO of Ming’s Products & Services Ltd., was one of the business owners honored for his support from the program’s inception. He underlined that investment in Guyanese youth necessitated a long-term commitment. “It is not about a one-time donation of money, it is a commitment for the long-haul. It is about follow-up. If Guyana is to develop, the first thing we must address is educating young people. Give them opportunities and work with them every step along the way,” he advised, highlighting his own success with youth of the Tiger Bay community.

Other corporate entities and public agencies, including the Guyana National Industrial Company, the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth, and Sport and the Ministry of Social Protection, were also honored for their support of USAID’s SKYE program. A SKYE Success Media Campaign was also launched and will focus on changing youth attitudes.