The Ministry of Health, Adolescent Health Unit, in collaboration with Adolescent-Friendly Health Hub, For the Children's Sake Foundation and the PAHO/WHO Guyana Country Office, completed the ICT training for adolescents in the three selected regions 4, 9, and 10, which commenced on 21 June and was completed on 5 August 2021. Forty-five adolescent youths between the ages of 12 and 19 were trained in the basic computer skills for the furtherance of their education, to equip them with a skill they will need in the future.
This training was facilitated by the Global Technology Institute, which provided a trained IT Specialist to conduct the two weeks training. The computer programs were Computer Fundamentals, Microsoft Word Core 2016, Microsoft Excel Core 2016, Internet & Email, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2016.
Positive reviews were given by adolescents from all the regions who thought that this type of training should be done often for adolescents, because it tends to distract them from the current COVID-19 situation, and it gives them the kind of skills needed in our society today. Adolescents who provided comments shared their experience in being a part of the program. While some student indicated that it was the first time they interacted with computers and the programs taught, others stated that they interacted with computers but were not taught so in depth as how they were taught during the two weeks.
Marlon Brown, 17 from Annai, Region 9, said: "the training was beneficial. I have learned a lot of things. The part that gave me problem was internet and email, because of the internet access". Marlon went further to say that he would recommend this training to be done by other adolescents because in his community they are not doing anything; he would like for the team to return to train other adolescents.
Amy Amsterdam, 16 from Linden, Region 10, expressed gratitude for being one of the persons selected and said: "I am very happy I was selected because it helped me in the Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) examination I had. I was happy with my performance at my examination because most of what came in the examination, I learned at the training. Half of the things I learned I was not taught at school in preparation for my examination, and for this, I am happy".
These types of training will continue in hard-to-reach areas that have adolescents between the ages of 10-19 years. Bridging this gap through this training and other types of training will assist in providing the services the adolescents need.
PAHO will continue to provide support to the Ministry of Health in training as many of the adolescents that can be reached, to equip them with the knowledge for them to continue this training in the communities.
