September started with a bang as members of the HEART/NSTA Trust Community Engagement team, supported by the St Andrew Parish Office, the Jamaica German Automotive School (JAGAS) and the National Tools and Engineering Institute (NTEI), rolled into Olympic Gardens for a Community Fair yesterday, as part of a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
September is known as the time when “free paper bun” for students and those affected by the back-to-school period. The HEART/NSTA Trust is making it easy for parents and youth to fully engage in the back-to-school activities by meeting them in their communities.
HEART/NSTA teams have been, and will continue to be, in communities like Olympic Gardens — connecting with residents and sharing opportunities for training, skills development, certification and employment.
Pausing from her time engaging with community members at the fair, Ms Ronique Rhoden, Director, Community Engagement Department, said:
“This event is one of the initiatives that the team will undertake to bring the opportunities afforded by HEART to communities, to aid in removing any barriers to access and conducting knowledge-sharing activities islandwide.”
The HEART/NSTA Trust wants youth like Ashani Fisher, who dreams of becoming a certified mechanic, to benefit from these sessions. Ashani signed up for his diagnostic test at the activity and is looking forward to entering the programme.
When asked what message he had for other youth in communities like his, Ashani said, “every youth like me must try get a skill to better dem life.”
“Every youth like me must try get a skill to better dem life.”
— Ashani Fisher
Community members like Monique and Selecia signed up for programmes of their choice, had their questions answered and completed diagnostic testing.
For Monique, visiting the HEART booth and engaging with the displays was a very good experience — and a family affair. “Six other family members signed up,” she said. The Trust is also giving her the opportunity to complete some studies she didn’t get to do while growing up.
She sees the Trust as opening a door to fulfil her dream of working in the autobody industry, like her father. The Trust will support her toward the training and certification she needs to do so.
Events like the one in Olympic Gardens are part of a larger plan by the HEART/NSTA Trust to bring skills training to the doorstep of those who need it most.