In April 2025, St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre (SJB) entered into an exciting partnership with the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF) — a local development initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada — aimed at empowering 210 rural youth through skills training in trades such as Crop Production, Commercial Food Preparation, Greenhouse Technology, Butchery, and Nail Care.
The “Sowing Skills, Reaping Futures” project is being implemented over the course of 15 months and will strengthen the school’s capacity to provide engaging hands-on and theory-based learning activities to students who wish to earn professional trade certifications. Specifically, the project focuses on training courses such as Crop Production, Greenhouse Technology, Commercial Food Preparation, Butchery, and Nail Care.
Equipped with the necessary skills and certifications, students will then be able to gain employment in the agriculture, food, or cosmetology industries. A huge champion of youth empowerment, LEAF has generously contributed approximately CAD$50,000 to make this project possible.
Thus far, our students have been hard at work! Our first cohort of trainees are currently wrapping up their trade examinations while participating in a summer work experience programme. This programme allows trainees to complete internships and apprenticeships at local businesses in order to gain real-world work experience and connections with industry professionals. Meanwhile, a second cohort of students have just begun training in June. As part of the project’s crop production training component, SJB recently welcomed 80 working youth farmers who are undergoing training in order to qualify for the chance to join a governmental work abroad programme.
Aside from the main skills training programmes, a variety of workshops will also be on offer. Members of the school’s 4H club are participating in a series of special workshops focused on teaching climate-smart farming techniques such as water harvesting, irrigation management, mulching and more. In a time in which hurricanes are increasing in frequency and intensity, this knowledge will be invaluable for young rural farmers who wish to increase their resilience to climate-related threats and disasters. The first session was led by Mr. Dwain Moodie (The Parish Manager for Jamaica 4-H Clubs in Manchester), who explored topics such as Water Harvesting, Crop Rotation, and Greenhouse Farming. For the second session, students got their hands dirty in the outdoors as they were taught by an agronomist how to set up an irrigation system and focused on other topics like cover cropping and contour farming. After the session, students gave positive feedback, with one student confidently saying “For my future, and for my classmates, I am sure that we will know just what to do to get [a] better yield from our produce.”
Keeping in mind the varied challenges faced by our target population, other workshops that relate to the psychosocial issues faced by youth will also be incorporated. This includes family oriented workshops (in which relatives of students are invited to learn and discuss how best to help the trainees during their academic/vocational journeys) and family planning workshops as a life skills component.
On a separate note, through this project, SJB has set up a digital management system which will heighten operational efficiency and increase the digital flow of communication. This new system allows a school to store and manage student records; track attendance; input grades, create academic progress reports and generate transcripts; as well as communicate efficiently with students, parents, and staff. Data collected through this platform can be analysed and used to inform school action plans. Having been used among several schools across the island, this innovative system has also been set up at other Mercy schools on the island. It is also part of the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica’s commitment to become increasingly paperless and environmentally sustainable in its operations.
This collaboration between St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre and the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF), funded by Global Affairs Canada, marks a strategic investment in Jamaica’s youth. By equipping young people and local farmers with practical skills and sustainable knowledge, the project is not only transforming individual futures but also strengthening the capacity of the school to deliver impactful, future-ready education.
