Meet Amani Gibson
Amani is a final year student at the Division of Technical and Vocational Education (DTVE) enrolled in the Agriculture Science and Entrepreneurship Programme, who will be graduating in June. He is 19-years-old from the community of Belair.
He is a young entrepreneurship involved in Butchering. Amani has been involved in various activities of butchering from as early as 11 years old. His father is a butcher, so it’s basically something in the family, but Amani expressed that he will be the one to take it to the next level.
He plans to own a storefront meat shop offering speciality meat cuts and other value-added meat products such as sausages, bacon and patties to various consumers, hotels and restaurants.
Amani also plans to further his training in butchering techniques.
Reflecting on the programme he pursued at Division of Technical and Vocational Education(DTVE), Amani sees youths as the future of Agriculture and by extension the agriculture enterprise.
In order to see growth and changes in agriculture production, He believes youths have to be empowered and exposed to modern methods of agriculture production.
After the training at DTVE, students can start their own business or add value to an existing family business is how he views how important and critical the programme is to national development.
The Agriculture Science and Entrepreneurship Programme equipped students with basic skills to earn an income which enables them to be well grounded and know how to manage an Agriculture enterprise.
One aspect of the programme is product development and the product in which I presented was beef burger patty.
Achievements
• Accepted into the Agriculture Science and Entrepreneurship programme at DTVE to pursue an Associate Degree.
• Being selected to travel to Trinidad in March 2017 for a UWI Tech AGRI Expo to represent the college and exhibit products produced by Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship students of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education.
• Assisting with the day to day running of his father butchery business
• Being nominated along with his father for Best of SVG 2018 “Best Butcher”.
• Being awarded the 2017 FAO World Food Day Young Agripreneur award.
Internship
Amani is currently pursuing his internship at Midway Butchers Meat Shop. Here, he is being trained to do various speciality cuts.
His Favorite Quote: Leadership is not about size, but about knowledge and wisdom.
He expressed thanks to his father Rodney Gibson who he considers his mentor, for his guidance and sharing his practical knowledge with him. He also thanks his mother La fleur Gibson for her encouragement and guidance.
Feature From The Ministry Of Agriculture
SHOWCASING STUDENTS IN THE AGRICULTURE SCIENCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME AT THE DIVISION OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, ST. VINCENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
