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Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 09, 2021 (SKNIS): Three hundred and sixteen tertiary level students in St. Kitts have joined the 2021-2022 Volunteer Corps. The students, drawn from the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), as well as the Advanced Vocational Educational Centre (AVEC), are recruited to the Corps as enrollees in the Support for the Advancement of Future Education (SAFE) programme.

The students were welcomed to the Volunteer Corps by the Honourable Jonel Powell, Minister of Education and Youth. He addressed the new members during the official induction ceremony on Wednesday, December 08, 2021, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic School (ICCS) Auditorium.

“You have all applied to be on this programme and to participate, and so it means that you have already shown a genuine interest in participating in something that is larger than yourself,” he said, noting the value of giving community and national service.

Volunteer Corps members often engage in various activities benefiting the environment, assisting vulnerable segments of the population such as the elderly or differently-abled, and community outreach initiatives.

Minister Powell noted that the job market in St. Kitts and Nevis and other countries/territories around the world is very competitive, particularly at this time when the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting companies and industries.

“Jobs are scarce. There is a lot of competition, but this is a perfect opportunity for you to develop and separate yourselves from others to make you more marketable and better trained to take advantage of the opportunities, and so I urge you to take it seriously,” he stated.

The young people were challenged to be proactive in identifying opportunities to give back to others.

“If you have ideas or thoughts, feel free to share them,” Honourable Powell said. “You may see programmes, initiatives, other opportunities … [or] worthy causes that deserve support, that you think can make a difference. It might be in the life of one person or … the entire community but I encourage you to give that feedback, bring those suggestions and ideas,” the minister expressed.

The Volunteer Corps is an initiative of the Department of Youth Empowerment.