Black Immigrant Daily News

“It’s not about where you’re from, it’s where you’re going”, that’s the theme of the Youth Entrepreneurship Session, which will be hosted by Fayval Williams, Minister of Education and Youth and Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern.

The event will be held on Sunday, September 4, at 5 PM at the Escarpment Road Park in Hermitage, St Andrew.

The session aims to help young adults tap into their ability and readiness to develop, organise and run a business and embrace the myriad of financial and entrepreneurship opportunities available locally.

Williams commented: “As the world economy continues to evolve and move away from traditions, we must engage our youth in the financial opportunities that await them. Financial planning, investing, and entrepreneurship are all necessary prospects that young people must be exposed to, and so we are excited to partner with some of Jamaica’s youngest and brightest entrepreneurs who came from surrounding communities within this constituency.”

She added: “We hope to inspire our youth and have them walk away from the session overflowing with knowledge and bright ideas.”

Local entreprenuers Ricardo Allen from One on One Educational Services, Tyrone Wilson from iCreate Institute, Keisha Bailey from Profit Jumpstarter and Larren Peart from Bluedot Insights will speak at the event.

During the session, Williams will be gifting 15 scholarships to individuals. These scholarships include five Money Blueprint Courses, five scholarships from One-on-One Educational Services, and five iCreate courses.

Additionally, the First Heritage Cooperative Credit Union will host a discussion on investment opportunities for youth and tips on starting a business plan/account.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Microbial Contamination 

The Prices and Consumer Affairs Division advises consumers of a product recall on Magnesium Citrate Saline Laxative Oral Solution due to microbial contamination.

Preliminary investigations by the Division have revealed that the recalled laxative is in Antigua and Barbuda and we are advising consumers not to consume this product.  

The Division has referred the matter to the Central Board of Health within the Ministry of Health for their necessary action so that the product can be removed and discarded.

According to the manufacturer, VI-Jon, LLC, the recalls include all lots of Cherry Flavour and Grape Flavour of Magnesium Citrate Saline Laxative Oral Solution, 10 FL OZ (296 mL) within expiry. The recall was initiated after Vi-Jon, LLCs third-party microbial testing identified the presence of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens.

The Division is advising consumers who may have purchased the product not to consume it, but rather return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

According to the manufacturer, immunocompromised patients, who consume this product, may be at increased risk for invasive infections caused by Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens that could lead to serious, life-threatening adverse health consequences. To date, Vi-Jon, LLC is aware of 3 (three) reports of serious adverse reactions potentially related to this recall.

In addition to the lemon flavour (which was earlier recalled), the recall includes the Cherry flavour and Grape flavour.  To find out if the product you have is included in this recall, visit https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/vi-jon-llc-expands-voluntary-worldwide-recall-all-flavors-and-lots-within-expiry-magnesium-citrate.

Members of the public may also contact the Prices and Consumer Affairs Division at 462-4347 or [email protected] for additional information or assistance.

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News

Finance Minister Colm Imbert. –

FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert has said the national budget will be read on Monday, September 26.

He announced this at the Spotlight on the Economy 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain on Friday, also attended by the Prime Minister and hosted by Minister in the Ministry of Finance Brian Manning.

After giving an upbeat assessment of the country’s economy, Imbert then fielded questions, to one of which he replied by urging the questioner to watch the budget for more details.

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The bell is ringing for the start of a new school year in many countries, but inequalities in access to education are keeping some 244 million children out of the classroom, according to data published on Thursday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the most children out of school, 98 million, and it is also the only region where this number is increasing.

The Central and Southern Asia region has the second highest out-of-school population, with 85 million.

Education goals at risk

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“No one can accept this situation,” said Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General, underlining the need to respect every child’s right to education.

“In view of these results, the objective of quality education for all by 2030, set by the United Nations, risks not being achieved,” she warned. “We need a global mobilization to place education at the top of the international agenda.”

Ms. Azoulay will renew her call at the landmark Transforming Education Summit on 19 September, at UN Headquarters in New York.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has convened the Summit to mobilize action and solutions, including to reverse learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Closing the gender gap

On a more positive note, the UNESCO data has confirmed that the difference in the rate of girls and boys out of school has closed worldwide.

Back in 2000, the gender gap was 2.5 percentage points among primary school age children, and 3.9 percentage points among their upper secondary school counterparts.

These gaps have been reduced to zero, although regional disparities persist.

Uncertainty clouds Ukraine’s return to class

Relatedly, four million boys and girls in Ukraine are facing the start of an uncertain school year, the head of the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said on Thursday.

Catherine Russell concluded a three-day visit to the country, where she met students, parents and teachers scarred by the war, now in its seventh month.

“Children are returning to schools – many of which have been damaged during the war – with stories of destruction, uncertain if their teachers and friends will be there to welcome them. Many parents are hesitating to send their children to school, not knowing if they will be safe,” she said.

Thousands of schools across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed due to the fighting, with less than 60 per cent deemed safe and eligible for reopening.

Ms. Russell visited a rehabilitated primary school that had been damaged during the early weeks of the conflict. Only 300 students can attend at any one time due to the capacity of the school’s bomb shelter, representing a mere 14 per cent of the school’s pre-war capacity.

‘Bomb shelters instead of playgrounds’

UNICEF is working with the Ukrainian authorities to get children back to learning – both in classrooms, when it is deemed safe, and through online or community-based alternatives if in-person education is not possible.

Since the war began, some 760,000 children have received formal or non-formal education. Additionally, more than 1.7 million children and caregivers have benefited from UNICEF-supported mental health and psychosocial support interventions.

“Schools in Ukraine are desperate for resources to build bomb shelters instead of playgrounds, with children being taught about unexploded ordinances instead of road safety,” said Ms. Russell. “This is the stark reality for Ukrainian students, parents and teachers.”

Getting children back to learning involves efforts such as rehabilitating schools, providing laptops, tablets and supplies to teachers and students, and guiding children and teachers on how to stay safe during a time of war.

‘Sad reality’ affecting young minds

Ms. Russell said education for the children of Ukraine has been dramatically compromised.

“After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and six months since the escalation of the war, their physical and mental health is under enormous strain. More must be done to address what for many has been a sad reality.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian children who are now refugees face other challenges. Roughly 650,000 living in 12 host countries were still not enrolled in national education systems as of the end of July.

UNICEF has supported nearly half with formal or non-formal education. The UN agency is also working with governments and partners to make sure that Ukrainian refugee children are either enrolled in schools or have access to online learning.

Winter worries

Across Ukraine, UNICEF has reached an additional 616,000 people – including the most vulnerable families – with humanitarian cash transfers. However, with winter settling in, Ms. Russell feared needs could outpace resources.

“Unless there is peace, the lives of children and their families in Ukraine are going to get even more challenging as winter approaches,” she said

“We know freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls are just months away, which is why UNICEF is working with the government and partners to preposition winter supplies, including warm clothing, shoes, generators, heaters and wood pellets.”

During her visit, Ms. Russell also met with First Lady Olena Zelenska, complementing the efforts of the Ukrainian people – including teachers, parents, and healthcare workers – and expressed gratitude for the long-standing partnership between the Government and UNICEF.

She also discussed ways of further strengthening the joint response to the humanitarian crisis and the importance of having safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access to all children in need of life-saving support.

SOURCE: UN News/SLT

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