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Monica Bodden found out more.

Monica Bodden, Reporting
30 young people are taking on the opportunity of enrolling in a computer training program - which will prepare them for the online job market.

Daniel Cano - Executive Director, SIF
"This online marketplace training was an initiative that was started by Youth for the Future and Community Policing, where they had registered some youths at various online market places such as odesk.com. However there was a recognition by these organizations that the capacity of the youths registered needed to be increased and this is where SIF joint this partnership and has embarked on the funding of training program in various applications such as QuickBooks, such as Photoshop that would enable these youths to actually execute work online at a higher level than before. The program also will be providing some equipment to the centers that the youths will work at in the future. Computer equipment and projector, digital cameras for the work to be done."

The project began earlier this year.

Douglas Hyde - Youth Program Coordinator - Community Policing Unit
"We start to move from stage one to stage two, which this is the third stage. The first stage was when we had the actual computer training of the introduction of odesk with the young persons and of course we move from that to this stage where we have been now getting advance training through Cardicom training center."

Christine Smith - Director for Youth for the Future
"We will be doing the job preparedness as part of the training package so on Fridays the participants will be going to the Youth for the Future office and there will be sessions on how to write a resume, effective employment letters, cover page for employment letters, sessions on conflict resolution; how to avoid conflict, how to deal with conflict in the workplace, work ethics as it relates to professionalism, dress code, what not to do in a work environment."

The Minster of Education this morning emphasized the importance of such training.

Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"It's important for them but it's also important for all of us in this country. This is a new initiative that we are trying. You know of our many difficulties of finding gainful employment especially for those who are not trained; they don't have the skills and strategies to make it out here in life. So this program while it is important for those 30 it gets them with their foot in the door it also sends the signal to others who may be giving up hope, who may be saying that there is no employment for me, there is nothing I can do, I can almost safely say that I'll have to turn to a life of crime. That is not the option, there are things that can be done and we just need for them to be committed to the opportunities that are being provided for them to survive and for them to make it."

And this training is not just for those in the City.

Douglas Hyde - Youth Program Coordinator - Community Policing Unit
"The participants come from all over Belize District, we have some from Hattieville, Ladyville, Belize City all over, and these are young persons who were not working, who were out of school. Some of them are from the block; some are young persons who have no attachment to any organization or group so it's a good variety of young persons across Belize District."

A couple of the participants told us how they got onboard with the initiative.

Arlette Woods - Participant
"Well I learned about the program through Mr. Douglas Hyde because I normally go to the Yabra Community Policing Center at the lab. I did a program through him already the "odesk" and I did Creole Council program with him that was recently done about couple of weeks ago."

Monica Bodden
"So now you are ready for this computer training?"

Arlette Woods - Participant
"Yes."

Monica Bodden
"Would you encourage other young people to take on this initiative?"

Arlette Woods - Participant
"Yes, it's very good. Well if you had computer training already it's upgrading yourself, refresh your mind and probably get a next job."

Monica Bodden
"How did you learn about it?"

Shakira Bodden - Participant
"Mostly because of her, but Mr. Hyde also came to me and talk to me and explain to me about the computer training and other stuff and I was really interested because it's like how Minister Faber said, opportunity isn't given to other people once, twice, maybe 3 times; youths like us even if we are old or young we deserve a chance to upgrade our skills."

As a part of the project -16 desktop computers will be donated to Youth for the Future and the Community Policing Unit. Reporting for 7 News, Monica Bodden.

Digital cameras and a projector will also be provided to both centers to facilitate continuous training……