December has been a busy month in the Caribbean for CLGF as our Regional Manager worked with a number of partners to launch an EU funded project in three Eastern Caribbean countries. The EU theme was about supporting more inclusive societies in the Eastern Caribbean, for which CLGF designed a project titled: Connecting civil society and local authorities for sustainable development through community engagement enhancing vocational education.

EU funding

Thanks to EU funding of €450,000, the project is targeting sub-national governments in Nevis, St Lucia, Barbuda, and Carricou & Petite Martinique. The project will run across two school years - 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026. Partners for this CLGF-led project are local government, secondary schools, and civil society organisations, such as NGOs, parent teacher associations (PTAs) and student council bodies.

Dynamic database

A critical pillar of the project relates to gathering data on civil society organisations and volunteers within communities. Collected through the students in participating  schools, the information will form the basis of a civil society register. This dynamic database will be handed over to the local authority for periodic updating and will help local authorities to engage more effectively with citizens in public consultation exercises, thus leading to better-informed decision and policy-making. This will give local government a better steer, and communities, the results that are much closer to what they need.

Vocational training

The second pillar is around vocational education and giving young people the opportunity to train and acquire practical skills for use in finding employment.

The project’s launch on Nevis took place on 29 November at the Gingerland Secondary School and was attended by the island’s Premier, cabinet members, the Deputy Governor General, education and local government officials, the school administration, students, and the PTA. The skills focus is on Carpentry and Cosmetology (focusing on beauty basics). 

St Lucia has already begun the vocational training element of the project in July 2024 at the Anse Ger Secondary School, looking at crop production: bread, pastries and cakes; manufacturing sewn products; and building and furniture technology. The school has now been designated by the Government as a Technical Vocational Institute, making CLGF’s project already a part of the transformative process.

The launch in Barbuda took place at the Sir Mc Chesney George Secondary School  with the Barbuda Council, officials of the Education Ministry and school, and participating students on Friday 13, in this case a lucky Friday with many potential benefits to the young people of the island. Training in cosmetology and Culinary Arts will commence in January 2025.

Unfortunately, although there is a signed agreement in place for Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada, the recent hurricane Beryl caused  a major setback by destroying infrastructure in the participating school. With rebuilding currently taking place, it is hoped that the project can resume in the second half of next year, if not earlier, possibly benefitting from the late start by learning from the experience of the other participants.

Addressing school dropout rates

The project has received extensive media coverage with the exciting prospect of training young people and giving them practical experience, which will make them more attractive and relevant to the workforce and therefore likely to secure employment. As well as a popular project because of its tangible outcomes of upskilling students, the programme is also intended to address the issue of dropout rates in education. Providing students with a clear link to future employment and increased skills will hopefully encourage fewer young people to give up on completing their education.

Looking to the future

In addition to the training, the young people who successfully complete the courses will be certified receiving a clear indication of their competencies in particular practical skills. To further help, there will be entrepreneurial training workshops with industry leaders, looking at topics, such as marketing, bookkeeping, customer service, and business development. It is also hoped that internships can be arranged through an Apprenticeship Programme to put the skills to immediate professional use with  businesses and trades people.

Built into the project is an annual public exhibition in each country to showcase the goods and skills created by this project.

With more than 60% of the Commonwealth’s population aged 30 and under, it is vital to provide opportunities to young people to develop their natural talents to gain employment and build a future for themselves. This very much aligns with the theme of the CLGF Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2023 in Kigali, which focused on uilding local resilience, with a clear commitment to youth resilience.

Healthier economies and sustainable communities

Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Ms Sandra Singh, said: “Our thanks go to the EU, whose financial support has made this programme possible, and to all the participants – students and everyone who is supporting the activities. There is a great deal of work ahead for everyone, but also so many potential benefits. This programme can really change lives in terms of creating better links between councils and civil society to ensure decisions more accurately reflect what is needed and wanted. For the young people, this is not limited to learning something new, it is about their future lives, wellbeing and independence. More employment leads of a healthier local economy and more sustainable communities."

She continued: "CLGF is delighted to be associated with this transformation and wind of change. We look forward to seeing how this programme evolves.” She cited the media coverage, which heralded the project as innovative and transformative, aiming to keep students in school and to make them job ready.