MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Sutherland Global Services Community Technology Centre, the philanthropic arm of Business Process Outsourcing Company Sutherland Global Services, recently certified 100 participants from a short Microsoft Digital Literacy course being offered here.

The training programme provides participants with basic computer skills.Paula Hurlock, manager of the organisation’s technology centres in Jamaica said the initiative started in Mandeville in 2016 and is mostly targeting marginalised youth.She said that the centres in Jamaica are the first in the Western Hemisphere for the company.Hurlock said that the offering is more than just a training certificate, but should also give participants a sense of confidence and drive to keep excelling.“On the face of it the Microsoft Digital Literacy Course seems to be only a simple three-day course but we have seen it do so much more than just certify the candidates. This course has awakened curiosity and actually lights a small flame in the mind of every participant. A flame of hope where there was despair, a nudge to move forward where there had been no movement before…We want to see the diamonds in the rough begin to shine,” she said.In the quest for growth, Hurlock said, Sutherland Global Services Country Manager Odetta Rockhead-Kerr has given some participants the opportunity to be employed at Sutherland Global Services with less than the required five Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) subjects.“She did that because the reality is that marginalised youth have a very small chance of actually achieving five subjects and more,” said Hurlock.Rockhead-Kerr and site director for Sutherland Global Services Mandeville branch, Melissa Madden-Collins both gave examples of their professional journey from humble beginnings, to motivate the graduates.The country manager implored them to seek to give back when they have achieved their own dreams.“In life if you don’t send the elevator back down when you get up there, you are not going to stay up there,” she said.The Sutherland Global Services Community Technology Centre in Mandeville operates from dedicated space at the Mandeville Baptist Church. The church is a partner in the technology project.Participants are accommodated on flexible schedules. Graduates at the recent graduation exercise at the church, completed the course at different points over the period of the opening of the centre to early this year.The Heart Trust/NTA is a key partner for the programme.— Alicia Sutherland