ILO conducts site visit to assess construction of vocational training centre in Saint Lucia

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Saint Lucia is getting a boost through a new facility being constructed with support from the ILO Caribbean Office under the India-UN Development Partnership Project “Upgrading Saint Lucia’s capacity to provide impactful vocational training for marginalized youth”.

Located in the Cul de Sac district of the capital city Castries, the new training centre seeks to strengthen national vocational curriculum with state-of-the-art facilities for skills development in hospitality and catering services. It is being managed by the local non-governmental organization, Centre for Adolescents Renewal and Education (C.A.R.E.) Limited, which provides highly successful vocational training opportunities to vulnerable youth in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Education.

ILO Caribbean Deputy Director Lars Johansen conducted a site visit on 4th October 2023 to assess progress in the construction and implementation process. During the visit, he met with officials from the Government and C.A.R.E. Limited including, Tracy Dolcy of the Ministry of Education’s Corporate Planning Unit and Karleen Mason, Executive Director of C.A.R.E.

During the visit Mr. Johansen was able to see the new facility nearing completion, and – through a visit to C.A.R.E.s current training facility in Anse La Raye – how the new facility will provide a necessary upgrade, making it possible to offer training and examinations in areas related to catering and hospitality which is currently not possible at the existing facility.

“The ILO is grateful to the India-UN Development Partnership for its financial support of the construction of this training centre. This is a first step in a plan which aims to replace all of the areas of training provided through C.A.R.E.'s programme in new, state of the art facilities on the same plot in Cul de Sac where the new catering and hospitality building is about to be finalized", said Mr. Johansen who also underlined the impressive work taking place already, in less than ideal conditions. "The work done by C.A.R.E. in collaboration with the Ministry of Education provides a key opportunity for marginalized young people, giving them a chance to develop professional skills together with life-skills, fundamental not only to attain employment but to keep it." 

The visit took place during a wider United Nations mission to Saint Lucia focused on leveraging partnerships towards improving peace, security, justice and rule of law. By targeting marginalized youth, the training centre provides pathways to skills for employment in key socio-economic sectors to reduce poverty and economic vulnerabilities, thus addressing core causes contributing to participation in illegal activities. 

This final phase of construction comes a year after a sod-turning ceremony in July 2022 that was attended by the Honourable Phillip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and other senior Government officials. The facility is now close to 90 per cent concluded, and the finishing touches including installation of equipment are expected to take place over the next few months, making it possible to start using the facility for training purposes at the start of 2024.

More information about the “Upgrading Saint Lucia’s capacity to provide impactful vocational training for marginalized youth” project is available at on the ILO's website.