Scores of entrepreneurs in Region One fostered through HEYS
DPI, GUYANA, Friday, May 4, 2018
Anius Roberts was a school dropout with an uncertain future ahead of him. Today, he is the owner of a small but thriving poultry business.
Sixteen-year-old Anius Roberts is just one of the many success stories of the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, which has given young people a second chance to make a positive impact in their lives and communities.
Roberts’ poultry rearing enterprise is located in Fitzburg, Port Kaituma. He is currently rearing 100 chickens which he plans to sell to businesses in Port Kaituma. The enterprising youth had observed that chicken is often scarce in the community.
Despite being a school dropout, he is grateful for the opportunity presented to him through HEYS. He urged other hinterland youths to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their lives.
Deron LaRose in his garden with his cash crops.
Deron LaRose, another HEYS participants out of Fitzburg, said he was in Bartica working with his sister when he found out about the programme. He jumped at the first opportunity to participate in the programme as his business was slow in Bartica and he wanted something better.
Currently, LaRose is the owner of a poultry rearing and cash crop business.
“This programme helped me a lot because Bartica did not have a lot of jobs and I decided to come back home and join the HEYS programme. It did a lot for me, it gave me a good start with chicken” he explained. On his farm, he has cabbage, pak choy, bora, ochro and thick leaf callaloo.
LaRose, who is rearing his second batch of poultry, said he printed flyers to advertise his business which has been receiving much support from nearby residents and miners.
Venturing into the business of being a seamstress is Shinell Lewis of Smith Creek. Lewis, a mother of three, said that her four-month-old business has been very successful. She explained that cloth is bought then sewn into garments that are then sold to the community and nearby villages. She said that the HEYS programme “is good and helps to make a living”.
Being the local seamstress in her community, she stands to benefit from the many opportunities which may arise, such as the sewing of uniforms for school children, among others.
Anius Roberts displaying his poultry.
Rianna Thomas, one of the HEYS participants of Wanaina Village, is also singing the praises of this life-changing programme.
“My project is basically fuel and selling CDs and DVDs and it is very profitable.
The young lady commended the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs for establishing the project which has assisted youths like herself.
“I think the programme should go on because it helps a lot of young people. Instead of them being home doing nothing, this is something good.”
The stories of these young men and women are the same countrywide. Many youths are now entrepreneurs thanks to the HEYS project. Launched in October 2015 by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the HEYS project prepares youths for leadership roles in their communities. Participants are trained and certified in areas such as sewing, carpentry, joinery, catering, agriculture, public speaking and entrepreneurship. The programme entails six months of classroom training and six months of practical training.
Participants also benefit from a stipend of $30,000 per month and a $50,000 grant to start up their own business. At the end of their training, each participant would have received $410,000 and a set of life skills which they can use to propel their lives.
By: Isaiah Braithwaite