Sutherland Global opening doors of opportunity
Published:Thursday | February 4, 2016 | 12:00 AMKeisha Hill
Young people from several inner-city communities across the island have been benefiting from a Community Technology Centre, organised by Sutherland Global Services (SGS). Since opening the doors of their technology centre, more than 745 of these unattached youth have been given Microsoft Digital Certification.
The free three-day online course held at their centre, located at the Mona Baptist Church in St Andrew, held two graduation ceremonies last year, and graduates received Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificates.
Paula Hurlock, Community Technology Centre (CTC) manager, says their mission is to create opportunities that change people's lives and transform communities. "We want to create relevant training opportunities and innovative tools for youths who are underserved by technology, creating social and economic opportunities," Hurlock said.
"This massive success can be attributed to the partnerships and collaborations forged with government and non-government organisations and the business community at the programme's outset," she added.
EXPANDING LOCATIONS
SGS is a business process outsourcing company with more than 60,000 employees worldwide. It started operations in Jamaica in December 2012, in a partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Technology Park. This saw the birth of 'Earn while you Learn', where UWI students are allowed to work part-time based on their academic timetables.
Operations have grown from 25 employees to just under 3,000; a second facility opened in New Kingston in September 2014; and their third in Mandeville last September.
Partners have included Mona Baptist Church, Hanover Street Baptist Church, Women's Centre Foundation of Jamaica, Mary's Child, Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, Swallowfield Commu-nity Development Centre and others.
Of the 52 CTC graduates completing HEART's Personal Development Course, 35 of them were offered internship opportunities at Sutherland Global Services. The first group began working at Sutherland Global in June of last year.