Disabled residents empowered for working world

Thirty-two Westmoreland residents with various disabilities recently defied stereotypes and proved themselves as potential employment assets, with their graduation from the HEART Trust/NTA's Youth Services Empowerment Programme 2018 last Thursday.

The graduation ceremony took place at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, where they received certificates while their families, trainers, and employers looked on proudly.

The programme, which began in April, saw the participants undergoing a two-week training and development camp, following which they were placed with various employers for six months. The employers ranged from Guango's Jerk Centre in Savanna-la-Mar to the Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa.

Kenny Gayle, one of the 32 participants, said in a brief address at the ceremony that the programme helped him and his fellow graduates to learn about their respective talents and how to focus them in the workplace.

"The empowerment programme, over the past six months, has been great. We all have our own unique talents that make us different in our own ways, and I can say we are much better individuals today," said Gayle.