NYS Hosts Youth Opportunity Fairs in March

The last three Youth Opportunity Fairs will be held this month. Hosted by the National Youth Service (NYS), this islandwide initiative continues to expose unemployed young people to the varying career opportunities and entrepreneurial possibilities available in their respective parishes.
Scheduled for Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and Manchester on March 15, 19 and 25, respectively, the fairs will feature talks, display booths by education, business and government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations in the three parishes.
Participants will be exposed to exhibits from entities such as the National Centre for Youth Development, Churches Co-operative Credit Union, Nursing Education Unit, the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Registrar General’s Department, the Jamaica 4-H Club, as well as Infochan, which will provide information on Information Technology (IT).
The display booths are specifically designed to showcase the various employment opportunities available within the parishes.
Youth Opportunity Fair Co-ordinator, Makisha Green-Haye told JIS News that the organizations would be conducting clinics following the opening ceremony. The clinics would seek to provide one-on-one sessions with participants, advising them in areas such as career guidance, and goal setting, among other career related subjects.
“We have a consultant from one of the lending agencies instructing persons on how to develop a business plan, while the RGD will be helping participants to understand the procedures in applying for birth certificates and so on,” she pointed out.
Mrs. Green-Haye said the fairs would provide an “excellent opportunity for youngsters to draft a career development plan, which in effect is a lifelong process”.
The March fairs are scheduled as follows: Kingston (Hilton Kingston Hotel, Monday, March 15); St. Catherine (Open Bible Church, Twickenham Park, Friday, March 19); and Manchester (Manchester Parish Church, Thursday, March 25).
With free admission, the fairs begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 1:00 p.m., after which lunch is provided for all participants.
The Opportunity Fairs are based on the belief that all school leavers, including those with challenging needs, have the right to benefit from effective instruction to help them achieve their fullest potential.