Local special needs graduate lands job at primary school
Kaheem Malone (front) at his new workplace at Alexandrina Maduro Primary School.
Roughly four years after he began his life-altering journey to earn a secondary-level education as a differently-abled student abroad, Kaheem Malone is now employed at the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School in Baugher’s Bay.
Malone was hired as a teacher’s aide for students in the school’s Therapeutic Kindergarten class.
The class was created to provide ‘inclusive education’ for kindergarten students who are differently-abled.
Malone was among 25 persons who landed various local jobs between April and June this year under the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme.
As part of the programme, participants undertook enrichment workshops at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College that made them ideal candidates for employment.
Malone, who graduated in May, was one of two students to benefit from a special needs scholarship to attend the Vanguard School for Special Needs in Florida, USA.
Education Minister Myron Walwyn sees his employment as the government’s way of providing ‘equal employment opportunities’ for differently-abled persons in the territory.
“Kaheem’s employment is also a signal that we are making progress in providing employment opportunities for differently abled persons in our community,” Walwyn said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the principal of the school ‘for seeing the ministry’s vision’. The minister then encouraged other organisations to become a part of YES.
Meanwhile, Walwyn said the successful employment of the young people signals progress in the British Virgin Islands.
“I believe that the employment of our YES participants is a sign of the reopening and reestablishment of businesses within the territory and I am pleased that employers continue to recognise the role that they play in the overall recovery process,” he said.
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Fahie started this program and Myron only picking it up now. Can I hear the untruthful bloggers for yellow love now please. On your mark, get set, GO!!
I agree with you. Many things Fahie started and Myron continued or finished but he takes the credit like the self loothing person he is….but some of us do remember.
You don’t realize that I mocking you? That’s all the sense you have lol. Fahie didn’t do a thing but talk.
You all are concerned with who gets credit for what. How about thinking about the people. The Territory has no initiative to make businesses and residental property handicapped accessible. You treat the handicapped like lepers with no regard for human dignity. How very BVI of you all. The end of you is nearing!!
It’s all about Wallwind and no one else
I didn’t see him in the photos after the fights at rite way involving high school students?
These headlines are such a disgrace and it’s quite disrespectful for individuals with disabilities…I really wish the people of the BVI could venture out and research more about “differences”
I will focus on the young man, who, in my view is a human being and who deserves a fair chance to employment like anyone else. So, I wish Mr. Malone the very best as he is now an educator and that he will be a beaming light in all that he does.
so why was the minister in the picture stealing the spotlight?
As the Minister of Education he is posing in a picture of history in our Educational system. He isn’t stealing the spotlight its the bloggers who seem to can’t ignore anything that has Mr. Walwyn in it. They loose sight of the real picture in front them and focus on him……Anyways, CONGRATS!!! Mr. Malone the future is bright for you.
Good for Mr Malone !
Congratulations Kaheem on your academic achievement and job placement. Thank God for the opportunity.
Proud of you Mr Malone keep striving. Pleased to see the BVI is moving in the right direction of inclusiveness. We have a lot more to do but this is a good start.