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...

Forty-nine-year-old Trevor Graham is among thousands of Jamaicans who have benefited from training at the HEART/NSTA Trust, since tuition and administrative fees for programmes up to level four (associate degree), were waived on April 1, 2023. Mr. Graham is the Station Manager at Menzies AJAS, which provides ramp, passenger and cargo handling services to several international airlines at Sangster International...

Eighteen-year-old, Meron McPherson, a visionary tech entrepreneur, is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to bridge gaps in the Jamaican real estate market, connecting homeowners with potential buyers through an innovative app she calls Home Finder AI. Born out of her own family’s struggle to find a home when they migrated to Jamaica, the sixth-form student at Immaculate Conception...

The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) stands at the forefront of developing effective leadership within Jamaica’s education sector. An agency under the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (Mosey), the College plays a key role in designing and executing leadership programmes for principals, middle managers, aspiring leaders and other stakeholders in the education sector. The Ministry, in consultation...

In a tale of perseverance and determination, former ward of the State, Dr. Kemar Henry, has defied the odds to fulfil his dream of becoming a dentist. The 29-year-old practitioner achieved this after pursuing the Doctor of Medical Dentistry programme at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), which he enrolled in after completing his secondary education at Titchfield High School...

Twenty-year-old Olivia Reid came across a video promoting the Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) Programme while scrolling on TikTok. The Queen’s School graduate then contacted her Councillor and expressed an interest in applying. Olivia was seeking on-the-job experience and an opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals, both of which the LIFT Programme promised. LIFT is a $2-billion Government of...