A new wave of inclusive economic empowerment has launched in Bernarddorp, where 78 local residents have started four fully government-subsidized vocational training programs designed to build new skills and boost long-term financial independence. The initiative kicked off Friday under the leadership of the Directorate of Welfare and Labor of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor, with the Stichting Arbeidsmobilisatie en Ontwikkeling (SAO) – the Foundation for Labor Mobilization and Development – tasked with delivering the training as part of the national Wroko Fu Mek Moni employment project.
Over the course of four months, participants will receive hands-on instruction in four high-demand skill areas: textile crafts, residential electrical installation, agricultural and land-based services (GaWaSa), and basic digital literacy including Microsoft Windows, Word, and PowerPoint. All training sessions and required learning materials are provided completely free of charge to participants, with local organization Stichting Educatief Centrum Wit-Santi leading recruitment and outreach efforts to attract eligible residents.
Speaking at the program’s opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that earning a completion certificate should not be the final goal for participants. Instead, he urged attendees to start planning early for how they will leverage their new skills to generate consistent income after graduation. Jadnanansing also encouraged participants to explore collaborative economic ventures, such as launching community cooperative businesses, noting that additional ministry teams will be on hand to provide dedicated support for entrepreneurship, cooperative development, and new business setup.
SAO Director Joyce Lapar also announced that the organization is already developing a new specialized training course focused on the production of traditional Indigenous clothing. This upcoming program will serve a dual purpose: preserving endangered traditional craftsmanship and knowledge while tapping into the growing economic opportunities created by Para’s expanding tourism sector.
The Wroko Fu Mek Moni project operates across the entire country, with a core focus on uplifting vulnerable groups within the working-age population. Beyond Bernarddorp, subsidized vocational training programs have already launched in Kwatta, with additional regions set to roll out their own cohorts in the coming months as part of the government’s broader push to reduce unemployment and expand inclusive economic growth.