OVER 50 marginalised youth from inner-city communities in Kingston were conferred with certification in Microsoft digital literacy during a graduation ceremony at St Theresa Catholic Church in Kingston recently.

They had completed studies at the Sutherland Community Technology Centre (CTC) in Kingston.

The free three-day course covered computer basics, the Internet and the World Wide Web, computer security and privacy, digital lifestyle and productivity. However, manager at Sutherland CTC, Paula Hurlock, said the programme offered much more than learning about the computer.

“When we met the first cohort of young people, we realised that they needed some personality development training. So we started a partnership with HEART. We delivered the personal development training, and we went one step further with them to do an apprenticeship programme,” she said.

Upon completion of the course, Sutherland selects about 15 outstanding candidates who are given one-year internships at the company. Hurlock also said that students have impressed the company so much that they have landed permanent employment with Sutherland.

Kemar Brown, who benefited from the apprenticeship programme, is very happy to have completed the course.

“My experience has been phenomenal. I’ve been working as an intern in the Department of Employee Engagement, where I assist in planning events within and outside of the company,” he said.

“The exposure I’ve had in this working environment has been good. I have learnt a whole lot and I’ve been to many places. There isn’t anything I can ever do to pay back these people for the opportunity given to me. I’m truly thankful,” he declared.

Kellefarr Myles, 21, also had high praises for the programme.

“It was a great experience; not only an experience but an opportunity, because I had nothing doing. So it was a great opportunity to get out of the house and do something constructive that I could benefit from at a later date,” she said.

Myles, who aspires to become a lawyer, believes that this is a stepping stone to achieving her goals. She is looking forward to making the best use of Sutherland CTC’s job placement programme for CTC trainees.

Another graduate, Chantal Stewart, was delighted that she is now certified.

“It will look good on my résumé. It is very good to be certified in a skill; it helps you to move forward,” she added.

Sutherland’s Senior Vice President of Customer Relations, Dan Lang, gave an idea of CTC’s plans for further community development.

“We are absolutely looking to add financial literacy and many more life skills to the programme. We would also like to add much more to the curriculum about male role models. We would like to do something in Trench Town,” he shared. He also emphasised that what the company is doing is having profound social impact.

Currently, Sutherland’s three CTCs are located at the Mona Baptist Church, St Andrew; Mandeville Baptist Church, and Holy Family Primary School in Kingston. In addition, the trainers will go to communities where youths are unable to travel to the centres.

“Anywhere we’re invited to go we will go, as long as the community centres have Internet access. Last year the Clarendon Youth Information Council had a centre, but they couldn’t afford to send people to us in Kingston or Mandeville, so we went to them,” Hurlock said.

As a result 115 people were trained in Microsoft digital literacy.

Sutherland CTC has also offered their courses at Mary’s Child, Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, and the Jamaica Association for the Deaf.

— Falon Folkes