HEART/NSTA Trust Reshaping Workforce Development in Jamaica

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 29, in structured three-week work placements between July and August.

The programme was a highlight of the recent Career and Education Expo, hosted by the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston.

Recruitment Officer at HEART’s Kingston Parish Office, Nerva Davis, emphasised the significance of this and similar initiatives in supporting youth development.

“It’s not just high-school students [that we cater to]… . If you’re in college, we also take you… it’s work experience. A lot of times when you leave college and you send out your application, you are told that you have no experience. This provides value for work experience,” Ms. Davis stated.

She said to qualify, applicants are required to present basic documents – a birth certificate, Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), and proof of a bank account, adding “we make sure everything is in place for them to be paid”.

Ms. Davis noted that placement isn’t random, pointing out that HEART partners with a wide range of institutions such as banks, private companies, and nearly every government ministry, and “we place them (students) based on the availability of the positions”.

For young people looking for longer-term opportunities, HEART offers several work-based training programmes.

Among them is the School Leavers’ Training Opportunity Programme (SL-TOP), a one-year on-the-job training initiative designed to provide hands-on experience for youth, aged 17 to 29, and up to 34 for individuals with mild disabilities.

Another option is the Registered Apprenticeship Programme (RAP), which supports persons without formal qualifications but with a strong desire to learn and work.

Entry into RAP is based on an initial assessment in Mathematics and English, enabling HEART to match participants with skill-focused apprenticeships that suit their potential.

Ms. Davis pointed out that, “sometimes, after these programmes, persons are kept on the job permanently”.

The organisation also provides two weeks of preparatory training which includes résumé writing, interview techniques, and workplace conduct.

Accessibility is a cornerstone of HEART’s mission. Whether one is freshly out of high school with no subjects or an adult looking to get skilled, HEART NSTA Trust makes room.

Ms. Davis pointed out that, “we take both”, adding that assessments in Math and English are done “so we see what level they are at.”

This diagnostic approach allows HEART to direct applicants to the most suitable programme.

If an applicant is not deemed ready for technical training, they may be referred to the High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme.

“We take you from grade one… and take you up to five in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC),” Ms. Davis said.

The recruitment officer stated that there is no upper age limit for institutional training, pointing out that, “As long as you’re 17 and you have a TRN… and even if you are 90 and you think you want to do a skill, we welcome you.”

From hospitality to construction, from beauty to business – HEART offers training in every skill area.

“Whatever the skill is, we offer that. Everything that we do up to level four is free. So whether you’re just beginning to build your skills or ready for management training, HEART’s tiered approach offers a starting point for everyone. There is something for everybody,” Ms. Davis declared.