NHT extends support for YUTE Build training programme
THE National Housing Trust (NHT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Youth Upliftment Through Employment Limited (YUTE) to fund a second phase of construction skills training for young people from inner-city communities.
The signing, which took place at the Office of the Prime Minister two Fridays ago, commited $32 million in funding from the NHT to train 100 young people under YUTE Build, a project managed by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ).
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who spoke at the ceremony, said that though the Jamaican economy was still in a delicate state, prospects for economic growth were looking good.
She pointed out that “If we are to achieve growth of any meaningful proportion, we must initiate and support programmes which have the potential to build the type of foundation required for this to take place.” She praised the YUTE initiative as being one such programme.
Joseph Matalon, Chairman of YUTE Limited, said that with youth unemployment rate estimated at roughly 38.5 per cent “YUTE… seeks to build the capacity of young people to increase their employability and access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.”
NHT Chairman Easton Douglas said that the NHT has supported YUTE because human resource was a significant component of any NHT housing programme. He also suggested that the programme be extended to rural areas because, in many ways, young people in deep rural areas suffer privations similar to those in inner-city communities.
Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites; Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna and minister without portfolio in the Transport Works and Housing Ministry Morais Guy whose ministries are impacted by the training programme congratulated graduates of Phase One urging them to observe the theme of the event “Arise and Build”.
YUTE Build was established in 2012 through an NHT contribution of $10 million. Through collaboration by the HEART NTA Trust, NHT and JEEP the programme has so far trained 43 young people in general construction over nine months.
