35 Social Welfare Officers complete Professional Development Course

Thirty-five School Welfare Officers are now better equipped to address the psychosocial needs of children in Guyana after they successfully completed a six-week intensive Professional Development Course. At the closing ceremony, the welfare officers were presented with certificates.

Funded by the European Union, through the Spotlight Initiative and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the training sought to enhance the capacity and competencies of Schools Welfare Officers to offer a gender-sensitive approach to the psychosocial needs of children as they return to school. Prior to the training, UNICEF, the University of Guyana and the Schools Welfare Officers worked together to develop a Manual to give guidance to strategies for responding to the needs of the children of Guyana.

"This training provided the parameters and competencies for fostering a safe, caring and protective learning environment for all children, irrespective of gender, socio-economic background, academic achievement or sexual orientation. It offered discussions on the strategies for a comprehensive approach to eradicating violence in schools," said UNICEF Deputy Representative Irfan Akhtar.