BTC participates in ConnectED Student Summer Internship Program

The island’s lone juvenile male rehabilitation institution, the Boys Training Centre (BTC), participates in the World Education Incorporated and Ministry of Education endorsed ConnectED Summer Student Internship initiative.
The four-week program seeks to build resilience and improve the quality of teaching and learning in Saint Lucia by equipping youth and educators to be digital literacy leaders in their communities.
Commencing July 17 to August 12, five aspiring wards of the BTC, an institution under the auspices of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, began their ConnectED internship at the National Enrichment Learning Unit (NELU).
Teacher at the BTC Tristan James said interns will enhance their skills in Social Media Management, Web and Graphic Design, Business Digitization, Data Management, Artificial Intelligence, Content Creation, and Art Development.
“As of now, the boys have been are divided into two groups and will be involved in Data Management and Graphic design out of the list of skills. At the end of the four weeks, they will receive a certificate noting that they are equipped in those areas. They are currently connected to NELU where they will be designing the curriculum into a software program, whereby students will be able to learn in a fun environment and grasp concepts within that curriculum.”
Funded by USAID and working with coalition partners like the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Saint Lucia National Youth Council, and the Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, the Saint Lucia ConnectED Summer Internship program will provide youth with the opportunity to develop critical digital skills needed to become engaged participants in school, community, work, and life.
BTC Manager Wang Sonson said this latest initiative dovetails seamlessly into the overall development and eventual rehabilitation of wards at the Center.
He said: “It is hoped that by attending this digital skills internship program hosted by Saint Lucia ConnectED, our boys will be better able to familiarize themselves with the different aspects of digital education and important life skills to help them transition into the workforce. This is important to the BTC as we aim to develop our young men and prepare them for a world outside of the Center to be productive members of society.”
The five BTC ConnectED Summer interns join another 45 young students from select institutions in Saint Lucia, enrolled in a pilot initiative.