KINGSTON, Jamaica—A transformative workforce development program is launching across four Jamaican parishes to address both unemployment and hurricane recovery needs. The Building Resilience and Inspiring Development through Guided Experience (BRIDGE) initiative will provide comprehensive construction training to 200 unemployed individuals from St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, and Hanover.
Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon unveiled the program during a ceremonial event held in partnership with the Jamaica Society for the Blind. The initiative represents a strategic response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, targeting communities that suffered severe impacts.
Participants will gain practical expertise through immersive on-site training at active reconstruction projects. The curriculum encompasses essential construction disciplines including roof repair techniques, steel reinforcement installation, and masonry work. Instruction will be delivered by HEART/NSTA Trust-certified trainers supplemented by international technical experts through global partnerships.
Beyond skill development, the program provides financial support through monthly stipends of J$65,000 to enable participation. Minister Dixon specifically emphasized inclusive programming, urging administrators to actively integrate persons with disabilities into the training cohort. “We need to ensure disabled community members can participate meaningfully in such developmental programs,” she stated, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to equitable access.
The BRIDGE program represents a dual-purpose intervention addressing both workforce development and disaster recovery objectives while promoting social inclusion in Jamaica’s rebuilding efforts.