Education

‘Pave Your Path’ Getting Youth Ready For World Of Work

For close to 177 years, the National Library Service (NLS) has been fulfilling its mandate of serving the Barbadian community as a ready source of information products and services.

Many adults can share memories of their youth while at a branch of the NLS and being caught up in the pages of their favourite book, or a magazine on cooking or craft.

In recent times, the NLS has broadened its scope by offering training programmes to assist young children and adults in improving their literacy and other skills geared towards the workforce.

One such initiative was the recent Pave Your Path Summer Programme for Job Seekers, held at the Tamarind Hall Branch in the Eric Holder Junior Municipal Complex, St. Joseph, for young people ages 16 and over. This was a first for the NLS.

Participant Juliana Marshall receiving a token from Sandra Reifer-Wallerson, Senior Manager of Retail Banking at Republic Bank.

Participants were taught business etiquette, how to write a Curriculum Vitae and Cover letter, prepare for a job interview, and communicate at work. There was also a session on opening a bank account and financial literacy.

Officer in Charge of the Tamarind Hall Branch, Astrid Mayers, who conceptualised the programme, spoke about its significance to a team from the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), who journeyed there to capture the students in action.

“I know that there are other governmental organisations that do something similar, but I feel like the library, in recent times, needs to pivot from just books and reading and studying, to educating the public. In other words, emphasis should be placed on more than just book learning but on life learning…. So, teaching people how to do a CV to enter the world of work…is something that people need to know how to do.”Officer in Charge of the Tamarind Hall Branch, Astrid Mayers

She stated: “Usually the library does summer programmes, but it is targeted towards children, five to 15. What I have noticed is that this branch, in particular, does not have a lot of juvenile patronage. But more importantly, I have found that a lot of people who come in to get their CVs printed, or they come in to do a CV, genuinely don’t know what to do.

Most outstanding participant, Erica Carrington, receiving a token from Senior Manager of Retail Banking at Republic Bank, Sandra Wallerson-Reifer

“After a few years of seeing that and just being like ‘this is not what this is supposed to look like’, I thought to myself, you know what? I have the freedom now that I am here at [Tamarind Hall], to have a programme and target it to who I want to target it to. So, I pivoted from the juveniles to the young adults.”

Ms. Mayers continued: “So, I thought ‘if they are doing CV’s what else would they need to know?’ So, I thought that I’d let them also figure out how to do interviews. When you go to an interview, from my experience, there’s always that question at the end where they ask if you have any questions? I always think, ‘what is this person talking about?’ So, I decided that I will also include that.”

The NLS branch officer noted that a chance conversation with one of the facilitators, Ms. Shirley Morris, unearthed additional elements that could be added to the programme.

“When I spoke to my facilitator, Ms. Shirley Morris, she told me about including soft skills, and we also know that financial literacy is a major talking point now. So, we reached out to the bank [Republic Bank] and asked them to have a chat with participants about opening their first bank account, using a credit card…. They were willing to come out and speak with us.”

Ms. Mayers said participants were enthusiastic to be a part of the programme and were grateful for the knowledge gained from the facilitators.

“I know that there are other governmental organisations that do something similar, but I feel like the library, in recent times, needs to pivot from just books and reading and studying, to educating the public. In other words, emphasis should be placed on more than just book learning but on life learning…. So, teaching people how to do a CV to enter the world of work…is something that people need to know how to do,” Ms. Mayers remarked.

She continued: “Libraries around the world have seen a fall-off in people coming in to read because it’s so much easier for you to get your information elsewhere. But at the same time, libraries all over the world are pivoting their services to meet those needs. So, if it is that you see that nobody’s coming in to read Hardy Boys books, stop buying the Hardy Boys books and give them something else that they want. So, it’s really a matter of seeing your patrons, knowing your patrons, meeting their needs, which is what we are trying to do with this programme, and any programmes going forward.”

The BGIS team was also present to see the role-play session of the programme. Senior Manager of Retail Banking at Republic Bank, Sandra Reifer-Wallerson, swapped roles with the eager participants, as she went through the process of opening a bank account.

She explained that the session was part of the bank’s Power to Make a Difference Outreach Programme, and was happy to partner with the Tamarind Hall Branch to prepare young school leavers for the world of work, understanding how to open a bank account and the responsibilities of having a bank account.

“We spoke about the documents required to open an account; when you have an account, the responsibilities of spending the money; how you fashion it out. What do you do? A portion of it would go to your rent, for example, some for groceries, maintenance, and medical. So, they covered all of that. We talked about KYC, or know your customer, and we covered a bit of money laundering as well.

“The session took the format where they would do most of the talking and they would do a role play. I found that role play is always handy to reinforce anything that you have learnt,” she explained.

Meanwhile,16-year-old Barbados Community College student, Erica Carrington, who was adjudged the most outstanding participant by her peers, was effusive in her praise of the programme. She said she would readily recommend it to others if it is offered next year.

“The programme gives you valuable information, yet it is not boring and drawn out… All of the sessions were useful, but the one that really stood out for me is the session on interviews, where the facilitator gave us all of the information on what and what not to do during an interview. At the end, we got the opportunity to act out a mock interview with the facilitator,” she shared.

Ms. Mayers is optimistic that the Pave Your Path Summer Programme can be added to the NLS’ list of activities going forward, pointing out “that knowledge is power”. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Officer in charge of the National Library Service’s Tamarind Hall Branch, Astrid Mayers (left) and Senior Manager of Retail Banking at Republic Bank, Sandra Reifer-Wallerson, sharing the moment with participants of the Pave Your Path Programme

Education

Concessionaires Vital To Health Of Nation’s Children

Canteen concessionaires are an integral part of the growth and development of this country’s children.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, expressed this view recently at a special ceremony held in honour of canteen concessionaires at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw said canteen concessionaires are necessary to the overall well-being of the nation’s children.

“By aligning your offerings with the guidelines of the policy, you help to create an environment where students can thrive, physically, mentally, and behaviourally. It means that what you do goes beyond making a dollar; you are making an impact, a positive impact, on our children’s lives.

“It is against this backdrop that I encourage you to continue innovating and exploring new ways to make healthy foods, not making them just accessible, but also making them enjoyable for our students. Remember, the choices that you make today will have a lasting impact on our children and ultimately our community, in line with our shared commitment to this cause,” she urged.

The Chief Education Officer acknowledged the role that canteen concessionaires play in supporting the Barbados School Nutrition Policy.

She stated that the commitment demonstrated in providing nutritious and balanced meals in schools to support the health and well-being of children has been nothing short of commendable.

“We all know that change is not easy. Nevertheless, you are willing to put your hands to the plough for the benefit of our children,” she told the concessionaires.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also commended the Ministry of Health and Wellness for being the driving force behind the implementation of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy.

“They were the ones who spearheaded the development of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy…. I know my colleague, CMO Kenneth George, played a role in that as well, and this policy focuses on creating a healthy food and physical activity environment for our students so that every single student can reach his or her full potential.”

She stated that the policy recognises that healthy nutrition is fundamental to academic success and overall physical health, but noted, however, that the effectiveness of the policy relies heavily on the collaboration and the support of all stakeholders and all canteen concessionaires, as the providers of meals and snacks in the schools across the island.

Addressing the concessionaires, she told them that they have the “unique opportunity to influence the dietary choices of our children”.

“Every day, some of our students look to you for lunches in the canteen and the options that you provide can either support their health or well-being or be detrimental to their health and well-being. By offering healthy, appealing, and diverse food choices, you can contribute significantly to fostering an environment where students develop good eating habits and where good nutrition is the norm and not the exception,” she stressed.

The Education Chief also said that they are teachers or educators in their own right and that they have the prime opportunity to introduce students to a variety of healthy foods, encourage them to make better food choices later on in life and instill habits that will carry them into adulthood.

“When students are provided with these nutritious meals, they’re more likely to be settled, they’re more likely to be focused and ready to engage with their schoolwork, and they will have the energy to participate in physical activities,” she told the concessionaires.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw emphasised that the continued support of students as the Barbados School Nutrition Policy is implemented helps to combat depressing health issues that young people face, such as obesity and related illnesses.

The Education Chief also lauded the support of the Pan American Health Organization, which has offered a prestigious reward to the top three primary schools that can demonstrate their efforts in establishing a safe food and physical activity environment for their students by the end of this term.

These schools are required to submit a report detailing the initiatives that they have implemented to foster this healthy food and physical activity environment, while the Barbados School Nutrition Policy and Prevention Committee, will provide the specific criteria for evaluation to each primary school.

“I ask all of you here to make a commitment. Let us continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. As I always say in my borrowed quote, if we don’t take care of our children’s wellness, we are going to have to take care of their illness. Let us work together to take care of our children’s wellness,” Dr. Ramona Bradshaw urged. (PR/GIS)

Education

CELEBRATING SHIRLEY – 100 YEARS!

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM PROJECT an initiative launched by the Division of Culture in Primary Schools

The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office has launched a series of educational initiatives for primary schools as part of the Shirley Chisholm Project, ‘Celebrating Shirley – 100 Years’, a Government-led programme to honour and celebrate the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm.

During the official launch at the Shirley Chisholm Primary School in Vauxhall, Christ Church on Tuesday, Rodney Grant, Chairman of the Shirley Chisholm Project, explained that the activities include Primary Schools Heritage Tours and Visits and a National Library Service (NLS) Primary Schools Art Competition.

He said, “As we are all aware, Chisholm spent part of her early childhood here in Barbados and went on to make history as the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and to run for a Presidential nomination in that country.

“She was a true champion for civil rights, gender equality and social justice and through these activities we aim to educate young people about her story and her remarkable achievements but, more importantly, we want to inspire them to pursue greatness.”

Grant explained that the NLS Primary School Art Competition is open to students from all primary schools on the island with exciting prizes for the winners, their art teachers and schools.

The competition’s theme is ‘The Importance of Education to Character Development’ and students can submit their entries, of drawings or paintings depicting their interpretation of Chisholm’s primary school education in Barbados, via email to honourchisholm@nls.gov.bb no later than Independence Day, Saturday, November 30.

Giving details on the Heritage Tours and Visits organised by the Barbados National Register of Historic Places, Grant explained that students will participate in guided tours around Christ Church, highlighting locations of significance to Chisholm’s early life in Barbados.

“We will also visit various primary schools for interactive sessions and during both the tours and visits, students will receive information on Chisholm’s amazing career. Naturally we are starting with the students here at the Shirley Chisholm Primary and then we move onto the Christ Church Girls Primary, Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary and St. Silas Primary, among others,” he added.

Dr. Sheron Johnson, Senior Cultural Policy and Research Officer at the Division of Culture noted that the tours and visits aim to foster appreciation and understanding of Barbados’ rich cultural heritage.

She said, “By immersing young Barbadians in the historical significance of their surroundings, this initiative, which also supports the Ministry of Education’s Social Studies curriculum, also seeks to inspire a sense of pride and responsibility toward preserving Barbados’ history.”

Principal of the Shirley Chisholm Primary School, Donna Franklin, praised the initiative, stating, “Our students have been exposed to the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm through storytelling, the sharing of materials and their Social Studies lessons. We welcome the tour because we believe it will enhance those learning experiences.

“As a school, we teach our students that, just like Shirley Chisholm, they too can be catalysts for change and we embrace opportunities to teach them that they can become anything that they want to be. They can dream big, they can think big and they can achieve anything. Not just here, but globally as well.”

Barbados’ Independence Day, November 30, 2024 marks the centenary anniversary of Chisholm’s birth. (PR)

Education

SJPI Students Receive Ministry Scholarships

Three students from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) have been awarded the National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The winners – Raquan Bourne, Liam Griffith, and Nathaniel Waithe – each received scholarships worth BDS $1,100, from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, during a recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI.

Scholarship winner, Nathaniel Waithe expressed his exuberance at being in the winners’ row, saying: “I am honoured to receive the generous support of the National Ozone-Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship.”

He emphasised that: “This scholarship not only eases my financial burden but also fuels my ambition to excel in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. With help from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, I am inspired to make a meaningful impact on our environment.”

The National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship is intended to complement actions directed at achieving the Hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) phase-out targets, as defined in the National HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan.

Since its inception in 2014, the Scholarship has provided essential funding for students pursuing careers in refrigeration engineering. The initiative includes tuition payment and a BDS $700 grant for tool purchases, in support of students and their educational pursuits. So far, over 30 students have benefitted from the Scholarship.

The partnership, between the Ministry and SJPI, aims to enhance the quality of education in the RAC programme, providing the necessary equipment and resources, to prepare students for future challenges that may be encountered in the field.

The scholarships, which are for second year students pursuing the Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, are funded annually by the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy. (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – SJPI Principal, Ian Drakes; scholarship recipient Nathaniel Waithe; Deputy Principal, Brenda Osbourne; Acting Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Corey Lane; SJPI Chairman, Coreen Kennedy-Taitt-GTE; and scholarship recipients, Raquan Bourne and Liam Griffith, at the recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI