Major Accomplishments by HEART/NSTA Trust

The HEART/NSTA Trust marked several significant accomplishments over the fiscal year, which ended on March 31, showcasing its commitment to youth empowerment and workforce development across Jamaica.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank on Monday (April 29), the entity’s Managing Director, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, informed that the Trust exceeded expectations with a remarkable enrolment of 137,411 persons across its diverse range of programmes, surpassing the planned enrolment of 128,255.

This achievement, she told JIS News, can be attributed to “several strategic initiatives, including the removal of fees, the implementation of a robust training support services framework, and innovative recruitment strategies”.

Of particular significance is the Trust’s certification target, which saw a remarkable attainment of 55,627 individuals, exceeding the 53,969 target by three per cent.

The Managing Director further mentioned that the Trust’s placement target witnessed an exceptional achievement, with 10,464 young individuals securing viable employment opportunities across Jamaica.

“This remarkable feat represents a notable 30 per cent increase above the set target of 8,030, demonstrating the Trust’s unwavering commitment to facilitating meaningful employment for Jamaica’s youth,” she said.

Dr. Ingleton said the entity has undergone a transformative merger with the National Youth Service, the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning, and the Apprenticeship Board, which has paved the way for the comprehensive repackaging of an enhanced and more streamlined suite of programmes, products and services aimed at empowering Jamaica’s youth.

She took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the dedicated members of the Trust and their “different approaches to ensuring that our training is complete”.

Another critical component of the 42-year-old entity over the 2023/2024 period was its investment in several national development projects.

Throughout the year, the HEART/NSTA Trust embarked on six projects across six regions.

The projects saw representatives of the Trust, along with trainees who were guided by instructors, visiting the Padmore Primary, Clonmel Primary and Infant, and the Cacoon Castle Primary and Infant Schools.

Visits were also made to the Rio Bueno Health Centre, the Blue Mountain Community Centre and the St. Monica’s Children’s Home.

Among the key activities undertaken at these locations were the installation of water-harvesting systems, provision of educational materials, servicing of school buses and replacement of parts, tiling and painting.

“Our national development projects are important because we are able to find spaces in communities that would need support and we utilise the expertise of our trainees where they, too, get that experience to be carrying out hands-on work on particular projects whilst being supported by their instructors,” Dr. Ingleton said.

As the HEART/NSTA Trust looks towards the future, it remains committed to building on these achievements and continuing to innovate and expand its programmes and services to empower even more young Jamaicans.