February, 26, 2007: The Department of Youth and Culture and the Department of Education have initiated a partnership to expand the existing Workshop Initiative for Support in Education (WISE) Programme. The new initiative coined WISE PLUS, targets young people at risk.

The WISE Programme was developed and is administered by the Department of Education through the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. It is a proactive workshop project that started at the Cottage Hospital with 6 students in 2004 and has expanded dynamically to 70 students for the 2006-2007 school year. Currently, students engage in the WISE programme in addition to their studies at the ALHCS. They are identified as students who may be at risk and could benefit from a hands-on programme that gives them a break from the traditional classroom, boosts their self-esteem, revives their interest in learning and provides an opportunity to acquire a variety of technical skills.

Presently the workshop includes a carpentry, a boatbuilding and a bamboo workshop, an art and ceramics room, a sewing and jewelry room, a kitchen, a vegetable garden and a computer room for one on one tutoring to develop literacy skills. The students choose their project, are assisted in the process of completing the project and own the project when finished.

The WISE PLUS Initiative aims to provide the WISE experience to young people who are no longer enrolled in school and have not passed the age of 19. They will attend sessions 6 hours a week, which will allow them the opportunity to be gainfully employed at the same time. Eligible individuals will also be given the opportunity to obtain certification at the Welsh Board and at the National Level.

The partnership involves the Department of Youth and Culture providing the financial resources to cover the cost of the young people attending the programme and the additional staff that will be required, since WISE, as a school based programme caters to individuals who are enrolled at the ALHCS. The Department of Education through the WISE programme will provide the training and opportunities for certification.

The programme is looking to pilot with ten young people in the first year and increase in size based on need and success. There are currently 2 young people enrolled with immediate potential for 5 more in April, 2007.

Government and private sector agencies that are involved with our youth are asked for recommendations to identify the potential candidates for this new and proactive program, WISE PLUS.