TWENTY-SIX young adults embarked on a new chapter in their lives after graduating from the ninth cycle of the Marion House Youth Assistance Project on Friday, February 19, 2010.{{more}}

The commencement ceremony marked the completion of the ninth group of participants to take part in the Youth Assistance Project (YAP) in Georgetown, and many were in attendance to support the success of these young individuals, including family, friends, trainers, program staff and community leaders.

Keynote speaker Alida Cordice of Sandy Bay challenged the group to continue on their path of success, ending with a poem that encouraged them to be the best that they could be: “If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill, be a scrub in the valley – but be the best little scrub.”

Programme graduate Chantel Joseph, reflecting on her growth in the programme, cheered on future possible candidates to join YAP and disregard any negative stereotypes that people might have.

YAP is a yearlong programme that prepares at-risk, unemployed and out of school youths for employment in the work force. The programme is split into two components: A six-month in-house life skills and personal development training course and a six-month unpaid skills attachment in the participants’ area of choice.

Cycle Nine participants completed attachments in the following areas: plumbing, electrical, tour guiding, early childhood education, automotive, garment making, welding, cosmetology and hospitality.

Seven participants who graduated have already secured employment with the organization with which they did their skills attachment.

Deborah Dalrymple is the director of Marion House. The Georgetown branch is led by James Browne, with assistance from Peace Corps Volunteer Steve Lincoln, and provides services to persons from Peruvian Vale to Fancy.

Funding for this cycle was received from the Social Investment Fund, in conjunction with the Chester Integrated Development Organisation.

Marion House, a non-profit organization, founded in 1989, emerged from collaboration between National Children’s Home and the Catholic Church of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The graduates of cycle nine include the following individuals: Joel Bobb, Leonard Brackin, Collin Cabral, Romanick Clarke, Sofia Daniel, Deus Franklyn, Nathalie Horne, Jason Hoyte, Monita Hoyte, Chantel Joseph, Martha Lowman, Inesha Mack, Julicia Ryan, Philroy Ryan, Izania Stay and Rosen Williams.

The following participants completed the Personal Development component of the program: Simmone Abraham, Daverne Young, Lisroy Bacchus, Shomin Burke, Philemont Toussaint and Ronique Smart.

The following persons completed a skills attachment component: Danovic Woods, Trevor Charles, Zimron Harper, Dawson Rogers and Darron Glasgow.