BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Seventy six per cent of the trainees who have completed courses at the Youth Development Centre (YDC) for 2012-2013 have been able to gain employment, start up a business or even further their studies, Brudirect reported.
From the amount, one hundred and sixty three of them are in service with the government and the private sector, seven are running their own business, and twenty six are furthering their studies to a higher level while sixty two are still seeking employment.
Since starting its operations at Jalan Utama Tanah Jambu, Kg Tanah Jambu in 1996, the Youth Development Centre has produced 2,223 trainees. In line with its mission to build up the capabilities of youths as well as train youths who have the integrity and are able to yield their own income by venturing into entrepreneurship, the centre is opened to Brunei Darussalam citizens or permanent residents aged eighteen years and above, who are still single with minimum academic qualifications.
Towards the implementation of its mission and vision, the centre relies on the Youth Development Programme which has three vital components namely the Skills Training Programme, Self Development and Work Placement. Skills Training include giving and enhancing skills training to the youths. Through these skills they will be able to seek employment or at the very least venture into business.
The Self-Development component enables the youths to cultivate high confidence and self-value, instil good work ethics and noble social values as well as positive characteristics. They will undergo study activities known as semi-academic activities.
Through the activity, the trainees also learn core subjects such as English Language, Accounting, Basic Computing, Basic Entrepreneurship and Islamic Religious Knowledge. According to the Acting Assistant Director of the Youth Development Centre as the Head of the centre, Awg Haswandi Hj Osman, the development centre is a unique institution. Apart from providing exposure to the existing skills training, within a period of nine months, they will also undergo self-esteem programmes which have twelve main components such as discipline, health, cleanliness, community works and religion. The programme can help bring forth excellence in the youths who have completed their course at the Youth Development Centre.
In an effort to provide an opportunity to trainees to gain skills and experience in carrying out a job more effectively, they are also undergoing a six-month work placement programme. Apart from that, to diversify the role and function of the centre in channelling the Youth Development Programme to youths in the country, a number of short-term programmes have also been carried out.
The programmes are known as the Asy-Syifa programme, asnaf zakat empowerment, al-hikmah, community empowerment and skills exposure. The centre is currently implementing new courses directed towards the current job market requirements such the scaffolding, heavy machinery and autocad short courses.
The Youth Development Centre is one of the initiatives of the government of His Majesty the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam as part of efforts to tackle the issue of unemployment among the citizens especially youths and at the same time producing a human resource that is of high quality and skills as well as able to contribute to the country’s development and progress.