Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe says that some of the interns from The Dream Chasers Apprenticeship and Mentorship Programme (D-Camp) have received job offers from several businesses after their training.
She made the announcement at D-Camp's graduation function at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre, Ballroom, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, which was hosted by the ministry. The programme is designed to assist unemployed youths from various communities throughout the country between the ages of 18-28.
In her feature address to the guests, parents, guardians, family, friends and graduates, Cudjoe said "I feel safe and happy to say that none of these 101 young persons will leave this room as they came in July.
"They know who they are and are firm about what they represent and they even contribute to national development.
"You will know how D-Camp exposed them to two weeks of life skills development training, then apprenticeship in their respective areas.
"We asked them who you wanted to meet and we would find that person and put you in contact with them."
She said they were put in touch with influencers such as doctors, lawyers, musicians, athletes, national security professionals and IT people and some of these youngsters from East Port-of-Spain had received job offers.
Cudjoe added that several businesses had invited them to work in their companies because of their newly acquired skills and outstanding work performance in the programme.
She commented that if the youths can do that in a six-week internship programme, imagine the results if more time and resources were invested in them.
Cudjoe said every young man or woman that was lost to the streets, crime, and drugs represented a missed opportunity of the Government, parents and churches and it was everyone's duty to be their neighbour's keeper.
The ministry, she said, took pride in equipping its citizens with the knowledge and skills and extending support to help them to make a more meaningful contribution to T&T's national economy. The minister said it was also to strengthen the social fabric of their community building a brighter and better future for themselves and their families.
She said the people were the country's greatest resource and the Government's business was to put citizens first.
Among the guests at the graduation were Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales, Adrian Leonce, Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, National Commission for Self Help CEO, Gary Romain, Chairman Adrian Winter, and Gwyneth Morris-Alexander, Deputy Director of the Community Development Division.