Five apprentices have officially complete their work learning weaving, storytelling and other traditional crafts through the Folklife Apprenticeship Programme.The programme pairs five apprentices with “tradition-bearers” to work one-on-one for 80 hours over several months. Apprenticeships this year were done with Milton Hill Sr in woodcrafts and model boats, Ronnie Chameau in weaving, Florenz Maxwell in storytelling, Omari Dill in sustainable agriculture and Rickilee Pitcher in St David’s food and heritage.Apprentices spend time learning and working with artisans in their homes and workspaces. They are also required to give a workshop to a group of students to pass on some of what they have learned during their apprenticeship.In the House of Assembly on Friday, Economy Minister Patrice Minors cited the results of past apprenticeships to emphasise the lasting impact of the programme.Jenny Faries, who did her apprenticeship in beekeeping with Randolph Furbert, now keeps several hives at her home. Quincy Burgess, now living in Kenya, is using his knowledge of sustainable agriculture learned during his apprenticeship with Tom Wadson. Apprenticeships with Dr Kuni Frith-Black in folk medicine have led to the creation of a Folk Medicine Society in Bermuda.Past apprenticeships have also included Azorean crochet, quilting and sailmaking.Ms Minors thanked the tradition-bearers for their work and described the Folklife Apprenticeship Programme as “an investment in our most precious natural resource — our people.”