More Persons Urged to Access Training Offered by Jamaica 4-H Clubs

Executive Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Lenworth Fulton, has emphasized that more persons should access training offered by the organization, to ensure a better way of life for themselves.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for 145 participants of the Tractor Operation and Food Preparation programmes, held on February 22 at the Denbigh Training Centre in Clarendon, Mr. Fulton said that many persons trained by the 4-H Movement were working in various sectors in the country.
“A lot of our participants work in the hotel industry, many go into self employment, and many are on farms driving tractors and operating heavy equipment in the bauxite companies,” he pointed out.
Mr. Fulton also noted that many of the participants were pursuing other studies, adding that training programmes offered by the organization were intended for people in the communities who want to change their way of life.
“I encourage you to tell your friends about the course, as it is one of the best offered by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs,” the Executive Director told the graduates.
Meanwhile, Director of Lands at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), Dianne Gordon, said that the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, as an organization, “has been doing excellent work over the past 67 years, educating and training young people in agriculture, home-making, leadership, social skills and other areas, and preparing them for careers in several occupations”.
“You have clearly recognized the importance of gaining life skills and knowledge, and have transformed this knowledge and determination into hard work that has succeeded in bringing you here today,” she told the graduates.
The graduates of the training courses had high praise for the Jamaica 4-H Clubs. Linton Campbell, a graduate from the Food Preparation course, said: “I feel very excited . I learned about sanitation and food preparation [and] I would encourage [others to join] the programme, because it’s very helpful and informative”.
Valedictorian, Nadesha Clayton from Hayes, Clarendon, who has a Bachelors Degree in Bio-Chemistry and Zoology said: “I did the [Tractor operation and maintenance] course to add to my qualifications.” “I saw it as a good opportunity, [because] if the corporate world doesn’t work out, I can go and drive a tractor,” she added.
Some 111 participants graduated from the tractor operation and maintenance programme, while 34 graduated from the food preparation course.
Mr. Campbell, Navaro Cummings and Janice Gordon were the most outstanding achievers in the Food Preparation course, while Kirk Grandison and Janice Gordon were the most outstanding achievers for the Tractor Operation and Maintenance course.