Young Jayda Powery is the newest intern at the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture.

As part of the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre’s (CIFEC) internship programme, sixteen-year-old Jayda is assigned to the Ministry on Thursdays. Her duties are to: archive news releases, draft speeches and file notes, and at times even to research laws.

So far her most memorable moment, she says, has been attending Government’s Policy Development and Implementation Best Practice workshop. Here, she learned about the various types of policies within the government, basic requirements for developing and implementing policies, policy sustainability, and how to draft user-friendly policies and other related topics.

Jayda is scheduled to graduate from CIFEC in June 2014 with honours.    She is also currently employed with Mourant Ozannes every Wednesday, another internship position which started as a result of her participation in the Chamber of Commerce Mentorship Programme.  At the law firm she is responsible for filing and research, as well as drafting and amending documents related to legal advice and opinions. She also often helps out in their marketing department.

Jayda says she is enjoying her experience at the Ministry. “I find the opportunity to work with laws particularly rewarding as it is my intention to eventually pursue a career in law,” she comments.

For the Minister responsible for Youth, the Honourable Osbourne Bodden, it is appropriate that his Ministry takes the lead on bringing in youth to intern with the government; the Ministry has had Ms Powery intern over the past several months, and another Intern, Elena McDonough, for a shorter duration over her university leave.

“We must place the young people of the Cayman Islands in positions where they can be mentored and nurtured, and where they can show us what matters to their generation.  As the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture, it is imperative to have the input of youth at our core.”

Jayda plans next to pursue an associate’s degree in Legal Studies at University College of the Cayman Islands.

Photo: Photo taken by Information Officer Yvette Cacho : Jayda Powery (seated) becomes a new addition to Health Ministry.