By Kimberly Giddings
December 11, 2024
On Tuesday, 43 women in Region Two graduated from a cosmetology training programme organized by the Office of the First Lady in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
The graduation ceremony, held at the Essequibo Technical Institute, also celebrated the achievements of 150 other individuals who completed various BIT programmes.
Launched in May 2024 by First Lady Arya Ali, the cosmetology programme is part of a broader initiative to equip citizens with employment-ready skills.
Graduates expressed their enthusiasm for using their new qualifications to establish businesses and grow professionally.
Several participants noted how the training provided them with confidence and the ability to enhance their clients’ beauty.
During the ceremony, First Lady Arya Ali highlighted the importance of the free training programmes, emphasizing their role in bridging skill gaps and creating opportunities for upward mobility in the evolving job market.
She urged graduates to remain curious and continually upskill themselves to stay competitive.
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton also commended the initiative, underscoring its impact on empowering young women and strengthening the workforce.
He shared that, over the past four years, BIT has trained 1,260 individuals in Region Two alone, with investments exceeding $1.2 billion.
The BIT programme remains a critical component in providing essential skills, enabling participants to seize opportunities for personal and professional growth.