Hanover skills expo, fair on Dec 13

WESTERN BUREAU:

The National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) will host the second staging of its Hanover Youth Skills Expo and Art Fair at Rusea's High School, in Lucea, on Friday, December 13.

According to youth empowerment officer for Hanover, Donmarie Latouche, the event will be staged under the theme, Youth advocacy through arts: Wi a tun up di ting, and would feature all areas of the creative industries including a culinary aspect.

According to her, the event is aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship and capacity building for youth, particularly those in high schools.

"It is also geared towards motivating and educating those youth who hope to find employment opportunities outside the conventional means, but have not developed the relevant skill set to accept entrepreneurship as a viable option to wealth creation," Latouche said.

"The objective is to have youngsters set up their booth displays with their different art pieces and produce, as well as to have the students who do performing arts provide the entertainment for the day. It is aimed at showcasing their talent and having people buying into the concept of youth skills. There will be a host of art and craft work exhibits on sale, and talents in performance," she said.

LaTouche said the event will be open to the general public and will feature displays from all six high schools in Hanover, namely the Green Island, Rhodes Hall, Knockalva Technical, Merlene Ottey, Hopewell and Rusea's High schools.

"As a second component to the fair, educational and training institutions as well as business-development entities will be invited to mount displays and provide technical support to youth. There will also be an open-floor discussion on entrepreneurship and wealth creation," she said.

Entities which will be setting up display booths include the University College of the Caribbean, HEART Trust/NTA, Sandals Resorts, National Housing Trust, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Urban Development Corporation and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

- Claudia Gardner