On Wednesday 12 December, cohort nine of the Passport2Success programme graduated, with a total of 23 young Caymanians advancing through the course. Six of the graduates were able to find employment while others continue to seek employment with their newly gained skills or return to school to continue on with their educational pursuits.

The programme began over three years ago with the idea of helping young Caymanians between the ages of 17 – 20 years who were having trouble locating suitable employment.

The programme’s success in the community relies in part on the collaboration of the private sector and the Ministry of Education, Training and Employment.

Mrs. Shannon Seymour of the Wellness Centre, who coordinates and facilitates the programme for the Ministry, was very proud of the cohort noting, “The programme continues to be successful because of the relationship between the government and the private sector. The collaboration allows us to provide opportunities to make our students successful.”

She continued: “The support this programme has garnered is a true representation of the community coming together.”

Chief Officer of the Ministry of Education, Training and Employment, Mrs. Mary Rodrigues, congratulated the students on their commitment to the programme. “Everyone here today has earned the right of success. Your continued commitment has allowed this programme to earn a high reputation for providing the community with refined and driven individuals. As such, all of you who have graduated today are now ambassadors of the programme and you are a part of our family and our continued success.”

Mrs. Rodrigues especially thanked the long-time sponsors of the programme, Butterfield Bank and Webster’s Tours. “From day one, Mr. Webster has been consistently  donating the transport for  Passport2Success, ensuring that the participants can get to and from ICCI who hosts the programme, and can attend field trips which gives them first-hand experience of different companies throughout the island.  We sincerely appreciate his assistance each year. I would also like to thank Butterfield Bank who has provided us as well with constant support and assistance, particularly in the area of stipend payments and ensuring each participant gets their own bank account. We thank you and all of our private sector partners for continually making the Passport2Success programme possible,” she commented.

Managing Director of Webster’s Tours, Mr. Kenrick Webster, joined in the celebration for the graduates and their on-going success. He said, “When the Passport2Success Programme began and the ministry sent out the requests for transport, I decided to do it at no charge. I wanted to make an impact on our young people in the community.” He continued, “There is no better value than to invest in our own young people today.”

For more information about Passport2Success as well as application forms and dates for the start of the next programme, visit www.passport2success.ky.

Photo by Information Officer Kristi Anderson