At 27 years old, Nicarlo Lewis is steadily building a name for himself as the owner and operator of Mighty Weld Services, a growing welding business based in Comfort Hall, Manchester. His journey from a high-school dropout to a certified welder and business owner, supported by the HEART/NSTA Trust Incubator Programme, is one shaped by resilience, skill and a passion...

A team of 25 HEART/NSTA Trust trainees is helping to advance restoration efforts at Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. The hotel was badly hit during the passage of Category Five Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The trainees were deployed on December 2 from three Southwest TVET Institute campuses – Black River and Derrick Rochester (Junction) in St. Elizabeth,...

When Erica Thompson graduated from Charlie Smith High School in Kingston several years ago with 10 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, she had one goal in mind; to become a teacher at a non-traditional institution like the one she attended. “My aim was not to go to a traditional high school. My aim was to come back to, if...

Among a cohort of scholars pursuing advanced studies in traditional fields like law and governance, Kerry-Ann Chen is charting a unique course. She stands out from her peers with her decision to pursue a Masters in Art History, a clear signal of her unconventional academic path. The curator and arts manager at Narrative Curatorial, is a graduate of the Edna...

As technology continues to transform education globally, e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam) is ramping up efforts to ensure students remain digitally prepared through the continued expansion of its Tablets in Schools Programme. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew Lee, tells JIS News that the initiative reflects the Government’s strong commitment to integrating technology into the classroom and equipping students with the...

The HEART/NSTA Trust has long been a cornerstone of vocational training and workforce development in Jamaica. It provides comprehensive programmes, tailored to individuals pursuing skills certification, career advancement, or entrepreneurship. The organisation also affords students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through diverse placement programmes. Among the initiatives is the Summer Employment Programme, which engages youth, aged 17 to...

As Valesha Burke collected her award as one of the top performers in the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) Skills Track for Workforce Development, she was filled with pride and hope for a brighter future. She was named the most outstanding administrative assistance student in the programme. For her, the achievement represents more than just personal success – it is...

Part of her job as a Security Officer is to escort persons who visit the organisation where she works, and for some time Ann-Marie Brown watched air-conditioning technicians service the system and became convinced that she could be one of them. Despite being told that that type of work is for males, she kept looking and seeking answers as to...