Category Archives: Youth

The Exceptional Hospitality Executive Provisioner (EHEP)

Entrepreneurship Youth No Comments

This is a new and exciting course which is being offered exclusively by the GARD Center through the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.  This course though previously offered by ABHTI has never made it into the full course offerings by the institute.
GARC Center seeing the potential for entrepreneurial opportunities is offering this course to twenty young ladies between the ages of 16 to 35 to think out side the box and “Go Against the Grain”.  These ladies, will cover areas such as:

  • Housekeeping
  • Basic Cookery – intro to theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the preparation of soups, vegetable cookery, fish and seafood, etc. and expose students to sound personal hygiene practice, kitchen safety and accident prevention.
  • Food & Beverage Service – intro to techniques in service of beverages and wines and restaurant organization for food service and the basic tenets of food service.
  • Quality Customer Care – strategies and techniques designed to maintain and exceed customer expectations and enhance customer value and build customer loyalty.
  • Human Relation (Workplace behaviour, business communication and interviewing techniques) – develop interpersonal skills, understanding individual differences, problem solving and decision making.

The ladies trained in EHEP will assist with a variety of life management tasks, including running errands, arranging activities, paying bills, shopping (meal planning, remembering special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries and purchasing gifts) and housekeeping (making beds, regular house cleaning, laundry, etc.).  At the end of the course, the trainees have the option of working within the tourism industry or starting a cooperative and marketing themselves as a business.
 

Success Story

Job Placement Youth No Comments

The Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program II (CYEP) sponsored by the International Youth Foundation and funded by the United States Agency for Internal Development (USAID) has recently been completed and with a number of success stories.
Here is what one of the graduates had to say:
ODYSSER THOMAS
Odysser Thomas receiving her certificate-May2013In speaking to Odysser Thomas, graduate of the Office Administration class of 2013, she shared with me her excitement of managing a supermarket single-handedly after her training and Internship in the CYEP programme.  (See picture:  Odysser Thomas, R, receiving her certificate).
Odysser experienced a period in her life without job to sustain and meet her needs.  She was dependent on others for survival.  She blamed her situation on her lack of education and qualification.  Her goal in life is to have her own home but in order to do so she must be able to work and save.  When she heard of the training programme at the GARD Center she decided to apply to gain some qualification and to be independent.  The training was a challenge in itself since she was no good at spelling and was embarrassed to let others see her failure.  She remembers the first spelling test, a zero that caught the attention of her English Teacher, who promptly took Ms. Thomas under her wings.
“The training in Sales, Marketing and Customer service really helped during my Internship, which allowed the proprietor to place me in charge of his business and left me to manage it for two months.”  I now have a full time job as Manager of the business.
“I am so pleased with the training and the support I received.  I see the improvement in my life and my attitude. Thank you CYEP and GARD Center.”

Business Development Unit – Refreshed!

Entrepreneurship Youth No Comments

The Business Development Unit, very recently received a ‘face-lift’ with a colourful new wall and lovely artwork donated by a Friend of The Center.  Pictured below is the Business Development Officer, Mr. Johan Oliver, center, with Ms. Brenda Carrott, Public Relations Consultant, left, and Mr. Whitfield Joshua Jr., Youth Entrepreneur, who is receiving business advisory services from the Unit.
Painted BDU office-11Nov13

Additional Recognition for the GARD Center

Agriculture Entrepreneurship Youth No Comments

On Friday, 1 November 2013, during the 32nd Independence Ceremony of the Nation of Antigua and Barbuda, the Executive Director of the GARD Center, Mrs. Roberta Williams received the Grand Officer of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (GOM).  This national award was for her work over the last twenty-four (24) years with youth and community development through the GARD Center.
Mrs. Williams was very humbled and became emotional as the Governor General, Dame Louise Lake-Tack,Roberta shakes GG's hand shook her hand in front of the hundreds of folks gathered at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds to view the proceedings.
Roberta, later emailed her staff to officially inform them of her award and wrote, “This award is for all of us, for all those who over the years have contributed to the growth of our Center and to all of you who are incredible. I cannot say thank you enough…  Thank you all again for your passion and support. May God bless you all and to Him all honor and glory.”
The staff of the GARD Center wish to congratulate the Executive Director on receiving this prestigious award, of which she is truly deserving.Roberta is embraced by GG-1Nov13

GARD Center – Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) Graduation Ceremony

Youth No Comments

GARD Center – Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) Graduation Ceremony was held on Thursday, 24 October, 2013, at the Ebenezer Methodist Church on St. Mary’s Street, St. John’s.
This celebrated the completion of phase 2 of this four (4) year training programme, which began in early 2009.
GARD Center Graduation pic 1-Oct2013Seventy-two young men and women graduated after successfully completing training in Basic Cookery; Computer Repair; Food and Beverage Service; Garden Technician; Office Administration and Welding.  These youth were also required to undergo a period of Internship after their classroom training. (See picture to left, with a part of the graduates and audience).
Congratulatory remarks were given to the graduates by, Ms. Karen-Mae Hill, Managing Director of Trium Bank & Trust Ltd., one of our Internship/Job Placement companies and Her Excellency, Deborah Mae Lovell, Ambassador, Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda and Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to OAS.
Joanna at GARD Center grad-Oct13Mrs. Joanna Ramos-Romero, Program Manager of the International Youth Foundation, donor partner, (pictured left) gave remarks on behalf of her organisation.  Sen. Shawn Nicholas, shared remarks from the Hon. Dr. Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who was unable to attend due to other commitments.  The Feature Address was ably delivered by Rev. Belinda Daniel, Pastor of the Old Road & Urlings, Moravian Churches, and challenged the youth to use training received as the first positive step in their lives and to continue to improve their lives from this point.
Kiosha Joseph OA. Cleon Athill MC.-GARD Graduation-Oct13Ms. Kiosha Joseph, Office Administration graduate delivered the Welcome remarks, (pictured left, giving her comments, with the Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Cleon Athill, looking on).  Ms. Deuce Nanton, Basic Cookery graduate gave remarks on behalf of the graduates, while Ms. Merlisa Harris, Office Administration graduate entertained those present with a Poem.
Specially invited guest,  Her Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda presented the top students with their prizes.
This training phase saw three young ladies emerge into the top spots.  Ms. Tiffany Fletchman from Tour Guiding; Ms. Kiosha Joseph from Office Administration and Ms. Deuce Nanton from Basic Cookery, who emerged as the overall top student.  All 3 of these ladies each received in addition to a special certificate, a book and stylus from the GARD Center and a gift packet from the St. John’s Cooperative Credit Union (SJCCU), another partner of the Center.
Presentation of other Certificates was distributed by Mr. Craig Richards, General Manager, Caribbean Services, one of our Internship/Job Placement companies, and Ms. Anika Aska, District Officer, North East Zone, Agricultural Extension Division and GARD Center Instructor.

Additional Training for GARD Center Trainees

Youth No Comments

Six trainees from the GARD Center had an opportunity for further training when they were accepted into Sandals Cooperation University Hospitality Training Programme.
Aldina Whyte, Merlisa Harris, Shauna Spencer, Kimmeisha Tonge, Kerricia Parker and Lorina Evans unleashed their potential to build themselves when they successfully completed six (6) weeks of training. Following the training, four gained employment within the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.

Registrations now open for Gardening Technician

Agriculture Video Youth No Comments

Check out our new TV advert about this exciting new course to be run at GARDC in June.

This course is available for unemployed or underemployed youths (you’d need to be at least 17 by October, and at most 25 at the time of application) with four CXCs or fewer.  More information at www.gardc.org/courses/gardening-technician.
Email us at youth@gardc.org or call on 463-4121 or 562-0084 to register.