46 graduate from Youth Link

Republic Bank last week celebrated 20 years of bridging the gap between the world of school and work through its Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme.
Forty-six youths graduated from the bank’s apprenticeship programme in a lavish ceremony held at MovieTowne, Mucurapo.
The Youth Link programme provides valuable work experience to secondary school leavers and exposes them to the world of banking at Republic Bank branches across the country.
The programme aims to equip participants with basic training and marketable skills in business related disciplines, as well as grant them the knowledge and experience needed to successfully make the transition from the classroom to the workplace.
To date, 1,500 apprentices have participated in the programme, which is open to secondary graduates, between the ages of 16 and 19 years, and usually lasts seven months from October to May.
David Dulal-Whiteway, managing director, Republic Bank, in his address to the graduates said the programme focused on encouraging young adults to become change agents and be more community oriented. He said this was facilitated through the Youth Link Care-A-Van project, where the apprentices strengthened the awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention among secondary school students, under the guidance of Rapport.
Dulal-Whiteway added that one of the initial goals of the programme 20 years ago, was to help root out the fear, doubts and misgivings youths had about facing the “outside world” and he was confident the class of 2005/2006 was empowered to strive for excellence in its future endeavours.
He reminded the class that although platinum was considered to be the modern gift for a twentieth anniversary, they had given each other something far more valuable — hope for the future.