The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) invites young Caymanians to apply for one of 10 coveted openings to attend the Young Environmentalist Leadership Course (YELC). This programme provides young Caymanians aged 16-20 with employable skills while also giving them a background in environmentalism and sustainability, ensuring the next generation of Caymanians entering the workforce will be environmental ambassadors.

Applications for this fully funded intensive four-month programme are currently being accepted by CCMI through 22 March 2024. 

CCMI’s General Manager, Kate Holden, started the programme in 2012. Her goal with the implementation of this experience was to bridge the gap for local Caymanian students between leaving the education system and joining the workforce by providing them with employable skills and a background in environmentalism and conservation.

Participants come primarily from John Gray High School, Clifton Hunter High School, and the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, with more students applying to the programme each year due to the growing interest in and the recognition of YELC within the Cayman Islands. After applying, students are invited to participate in an interview process. 

Successful applicants to the programme begin a four-month long scuba training period on Grand Cayman in mid-April. This is followed by a week-long intensive residential course at the Little Cayman Research Centre in August. During their residential experience at CCMI, YELC students receive lectures about the local environment, scuba diving practice, skill-building workshops, career-focused guidance, and professional networking opportunities. They leave YELC with a career path in focus, CV and interview skills, dive qualifications, contacts within the industry, and future opportunities to pursue.

Post-YELC, the CCMI team maintains contact with the students, providing mentorship and guidance as requested, offering internships and employment where possible to provide additional opportunities for YELC participants, and engaging with the students through our growing alumni network.

Sponsored by Foster’s, Rotary Central Grand Cayman, and CG BritCay, and with dive training provided by Go Pro Diving Cayman, YELC has had more than 100 student participants since it’s inception more than 10 years ago.  

“The difference YELC makes to young people’s lives is marked. CCMI is now seeing YELC alumni flow through to professional roles in the dive tourism and environmental science fields. We see how that this experience can spark an interest in Cayman’s youth while also providing them with important professional skills, experience, and introductions to contacts in the field.”

Information about YELC and other programme at CCMI can be found at www.reefresearch.org; the application can be downloaded at www.reefresearch.org/yelc/.  Students who are interested in participating in the programme should complete and submit their application materials to CCMI’s education department at [email protected] by 5 pm on Friday, 22^nd March 2024.