Minister of Community Development, Winston "Gypsy" Peters is expected to attend and deliver the feature address at a graduation ceremony being hosted by the Export Centres Company Ltd's Primary Schools Vacation Craft Programmes today at the Point Fortin Centre on Reid Road from 10 am.
Six graduation ceremonies have already taken place at several primary schools (mostly in south Trinidad), with the final graduation scheduled for tomorrow at the Vega de Oropouche Community Centre in Sangre Grande from 2 pm.
The programme is geared towards tutoring children to attain skills in craft such as tie-dye, balloon, costume jewelry, confectionery, shell craft, basketry and wood craft, among other vocational pursuits. Classes were held at 16 schools over the past month, with a total of 375 students graduating.
Today, 103 participants will graduate at Point Fortin. John Lewis, principal of Matura Government Primary School has suggested that ECCL donate two wood burning kits to the school to continue teaching the skill as an elective because of the interest shown by the students.
The Export Centres Company Ltd is a state enterprise under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development and is mandated to empower members of village communities through the production of craft for the export market. The ECCL's main objective is to provide export-specific training for persons who previously received basic training in craft development at the Community Development Division's training or those who benefited from other relevant training exposure. Its main targets are members of village communities, particularly female heads of households.