Future Energy Experts

Fifteen Scholarship and Apprenticeship Awardees Embark on 3-Month Paid Apprenticeship

On June 1, fifteen (15) students from the Engineering and the Circular Economy Department of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), recipients of the RESDP Scholarship and Apprenticeship Programme (SAP), commenced their apprenticeships at several hosting partners islandwide. Completing an apprenticeship is a mandatory requirement for graduation at the college as it prepares apprentices for their careers.

“At the RESDP we see apprenticeships as a pipeline between academic instruction and the workplace. More specifically we believe it’s a great way for apprentices to apply their classroom knowledge to real life situations, an opportunity to gain employable skills and industry experience thus better readying the apprentice for their careers and future workplace”, says Dominic Alexander, Social Development and Safeguards Officer.

Unlike the traditional SALCC apprenticeship which only lasts one month, this extended paid apprenticeship lasts three months. The extended period makes apprentices better prepared for the workplace by providing them with more time and opportunity to acquire workplace skills and experience.

Apprenticeship hosting partners for this year’s apprenticeship programme include the OECS Commission, Converge Solutions Inc, Government Information Technology Services Limited, Flow St. Lucia, Computer World, WASCO, Saint Lucia Distillers, St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Millenium Heights Medical Complex, Peter and Company Auto, Yamaha/TH Motor and Marine, and Rasco Garage.

RESDP Engages Female Graduates to Address Employment Gaps in the Renewable Energy Sector

On June 25, 2026, the RESDP convened an online consultation with graduates of its SAP to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing young women transitioning into the renewable energy workforce.

The virtual engagement brought together female SAP graduates from the SALCC to share their experiences, identify barriers to employment, and recommend practical solutions to strengthen workforce participation in Saint Lucia's growing renewable energy sector. Participants reflected on the strengths of the SAP and the relevance of their academic and apprenticeship experiences. Discussions also explored issues such as limited work experience, gender bias, lack of self-confidence and the availability of job opportunities within the sector.

Speaking during the consultation, Windia Jaunai, Community Liaison Officer emphasized, “This consultation is an opportunity to hear directly from you, our graduates, so that we can better understand your experiences and identify ways to strengthen future programmes and improve employment outcomes for other cohorts."

One graduate noted, “The programme gave me valuable technical knowledge and practical exposure, but discussions like these are important because they allow us to identify the additional support needed to  bridge the gap between graduation and employment." Recommendations from graduates included expanding mentorship opportunities, strengthening career guidance, and fostering greater collaboration with employers to create pathways into sustainable employment. These recommendations have been passed to Kurt Inglis, Acting Project Manager, Caribbean Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility (RREIIF).

RREIIF is the first energy facility in the Caribbean designed as a regional platform to deliver utility-scale renewable energy through cross-country project aggregation, joint procurement, and structured de-risking. Phase I, which is now under implementation in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has mobilized US $115 million, focusing on renewable generation,  power grid infrastructure and technical assistance. As part of the technical assistance component, partial scholarships and paid apprenticeships will be provided to qualified young people to pursue two-year studies in the renewable energy field at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. More information on the programme can be obtained on enrollment into the college and registration with the Engineering and Circular Economy Department.

The RESDP extends its appreciation to SALCC for facilitating the ongoing and upcoming SAP and fo most recently, assisting with the mobilization of graduates for the online consultation.

The RESDP reaffirms its commitment to empowering young women to become leaders in Saint Lucia's renewable energy transition.