ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba Project AWE is creating new pathways for young people to gain practical skills, build confidence and prepare for employment, further education or entrepreneurship through vocational training and personal development.
Operating under the motto “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow,” the initiative will initially focus on approximately 10 to 15 young people between the ages of 16 and 35.
The project is intended particularly for young people who may not always have easy access to opportunities that can help them develop personally and professionally.
Tourism, Transport and Labor Minister Wendrick Cicilia said the goal is not simply to wait for young people to seek assistance, but to reach into communities, identify talent and connect participants with practical opportunities.
Aruba Project AWE Starts With Barber Training
The first Aruba Project AWE group will participate in barbering workshops scheduled for September 7, 14, 21 and 28.
Participants will receive practical instruction and hands-on experience while learning more about possible employment opportunities within the profession.
The training is also intended to help participants consider whether they could eventually establish their own small businesses.
Alcides Marin, owner of STASH, emphasized that barbering should be treated as a serious profession requiring discipline, dedication and responsibility rather than simply as a hobby.
Five Vocational Training Areas Planned
During its initial phase, Project AWE plans to offer five types of practical workshops in areas organizers say have demand within Aruba’s labor market.
They include:
- Barbering
- Bartending and drink preparation
- Customer care and service
- Acrylic nail techniques
- Eyelash application
The workshops are designed to give participants skills they may be able to apply directly in employment or self-employment.
Current local reporting confirms these five training areas as part of the initiative’s first phase.
Project Goes Beyond Technical Skills
The program will not focus only on learning a trade.
Participants are also expected to receive personal and professional development workshops, vocational training, certified lessons and educational support.
Entrepreneurship and financial education will form another part of the program.
Mentoring, personal coaching, career guidance and future planning are also intended to help participants understand how to move from training into realistic next steps.
That could mean entering the labor market, continuing their education or developing a business idea.
Cicilia Calls for Direct Youth Outreach
Cicilia said young people continue to have value even when they have experienced obstacles in their lives.
He argued that government and community organizations should actively seek out young people rather than expecting everyone to know where to find opportunities independently.
According to the minister, that means going into neighborhoods, listening to young people’s needs, identifying their abilities and connecting them with programs that can help them move forward.
Current reporting on Project AWE similarly emphasizes direct community outreach and connecting participants with real opportunities for growth.
Employment and Entrepreneurship Are Key Goals
The broader objective of Aruba Project AWE is not simply to complete a series of workshops.
Organizers want participants to leave with practical abilities, greater confidence, motivation and clearer options for their futures.
For some, the next step may be finding employment using their newly developed skills.
Others may pursue additional education or vocational training.
Participants interested in entrepreneurship can also use the business and financial education components to better understand what is required to start working independently.
Investing in Aruba’s Young People
Cicilia described investment in young people as an investment in Aruba’s wider community.
Providing skills, guidance and opportunities can help participants become more independent and better prepared for challenges in the labor market.
Project AWE’s first barbering sessions begin September 7, with additional vocational areas expected to follow as the program develops.
Through practical training, mentorship and professional preparation, Aruba Project AWE aims to turn education into concrete opportunities for young people to work, study, build businesses and develop more secure futures.
