Ministry of Education & Youth

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Sixty computer scholarships valued at $2.5 million, have been offered to unemployed and at-risk young persons between 17 and 25 years of age from Bluefields and surrounding communities in Eastern Westmoreland.

The 60 persons are currently taking part in a six-week computer training course, which will last until September 29. The course is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Project, under the theme: 'Youth Inclusion Through Information and Communication Technologies'.

The programme covers specific areas such as, computer and word processing fundamentals, digital media, internet and web development, and will be carried out by the Bluefields People's Community Association (BPCA) at Belmont, near Bluefields.

Chairman of the BPCA, Keith Wedderburn, told JIS News that this course has come on the heels of a similar one which the association held for 222 young people.

"Participants in the computer course must be functionally literate and have a mind to excel. The main objective of the project is to expand the BPCA's ICT training to enable the participants to improve their personal educational levels, increase their income generating capacity and enhance their ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities," he explained.

Mr. Wedderburn informed that the Jamaica Sustainable Development Network (JSDN) had been implementing the project through four of its established community access points across the country.

All participants will receive certificates approved by Microsoft and the UNDP, on successful completion of the prescribed course.

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