May 3, 2010 | By Kaieteur News
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The All Saints Presbyterian Development Centre is on a mission to empower 150 young persons in New Amsterdam and its immediate environs.
Project Coordinator of CELL, Marian Tinnie indicated that based on recent assessment, 20 persons, between the ages of 18 and 35, were selected to participate in a three-month training programme in carpentry, masonry, block making and painting. Their sessions started last month at the Princess Elizabeth Road location.
CELL (Community Empowerment for Livelihood) is one of the nine components of the St. Francis Community Developers’ Project ‘RESCUE’, (Reforming Education, Skills and Capacity for Ultimate Empowerment).
RESCUE is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Enhanced Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Project (EPTSI). According to Ms. Tinnie, one of the objectives of the EPTSI is to capacitate young people, particularly women, to participate fully and constructively in governance and to serve as agents for peaceful change.
RESCUE came into being after the two-year contract was signed by the UNDP, EPTSI and the St. Francis Community Developers on December 17th last year.
Project CELL strives to enhance public trust, security, and inclusion for all citizens with the view of bridging the generation gap.
Other parts of CELL include the rehabilitation of the 140-year old building that was used as the All Saints Primary School. The dilapidated building was handed back to the Church after the students were relocated, and construction of their $42 million school began mid-2007. The students now occupy a new structure on the adjacent plot. Since then it was decided to refurbish the old school building then use it in ways to serve the community.
The 20 trainees are receiving hands-on exposure since they are part of the construction team working on the building. The offices are already completed and it is estimated that within a fortnight the lower flat would be enclosed.
Upon completion, a wide range of service would be offered there in addition to the skill training already in progress. These include dressmaking, handicraft, catering and other aspects of the culinary field. Capacity building, job creation, agricultural diversification programmes, trust building and micro-enterprise development, networking, counseling on HIV/AIDS and the like would also be offered along with sessions on inclusive governance. There would also be remedial and information technology classes.
The lower flat of building would accommodate, inter alia, their Daycare Centre – Little Angels Play Group, a canteen and a homework club. Presently, the Daycare occupies the Church building.
The next leg of CELL is to construct a greenhouse by January 2011, further up the Princess Elizabeth Road on the plot of land that once housed the old Supreme Court. This facility would also provide training for farmers, assist in the practical for Secondary School students, sell seedlings, hold a mini-farmers’ market among other things. A number of resource personnel were identified to work along with the group. Aquaculture would also be introduced soon.
Ms. Tinnie said that although the overall project is in the early stages, it is making a difference in the lives of many single parents and families in need. At present scores of children from New Amsterdam, East and West Canje and some sections of the East Bank of Berbice make use of the Daycare facility.
On April 8th, the All Saints Presbyterian (Scotts) observed its 190th anniversary.