Finding a trusting mentor can be a life changing experience, particularly if you are an impressionable high school student. Advice about college, the workplace and life in general can be overwhelming and confusing.

Mentoring Cayman, a joint youth empowerment and development initiative launched by the Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Youth in 2002, has assisted more than 1,400 mentors and students establish trusting relationships.

43 students from public and private high schools were matched with volunteer mentors from the private and public sectors. Several of these relationships led to summer employment and lifelong friendships. This month concludes the 15th year of the programme.

“Mentoring Cayman is a life changing experience for many students and mentors,” said Chamber CEO,
Wil Pineau, CCE, himself a past mentor of the programme for three students over the years.

“All of the young adults I mentored have completed college and are now making outstanding contributions to our society. I am proud of each of them and so happy to know that I may have played some part in their lives,” he added.

Acting Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson hosted the students, mentors, parents and sponsors at a Government House reception on Tuesday, June 26. Each Governor has supported the programme since its launch in 2002.

The programme is intended to provide students and mentors with workplace and social interactions so that they can develop a trusting relationship. Activities included regular workplace visits, a field-trip to Health City, a luncheon with a motivational address by Faith Gealey, the 2018 Young Caymanian
Leadership Award recipient, and a sunset catamaran cruise around the North Sound. The students also participated in an education and careers workshop and heard from local business leaders, including:

Melissa Comparin; Security Centre
Xenia Goddard; Ken Blanchard Companies
Pamella Mitchell; Kombre & Kim
Tunisia Barnes; Department of Tourism

The Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Mentoring Cayman programme:

Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company Ltd.
Consolidated Water
Cox Lumber
Knighthead Annuity & Life Assurance
Rocky’s Diamond Gallery
The following schools have students involved in the programme:
Cayman Prep & High School
Clifton Hunter High School
John Gray High School
St. Ignatius Catholic High School
Triple C

Have you ever considered becoming a mentor? It’s a rewarding and life changing experience. If you’d like to volunteer for the 2019 programme, send an email to [email protected] or call 949-8090.