The commencement ceremony for Cohort #17 graduates of the Passport2Success programme took place on Monday, 20 July 2015 at the Luca Caribbean Club.

Eighteen proud young Caymanians earned their Passport2Success graduation certificates after completing the 12 week employment skills training programme.

Graduates hosted the ceremony, providing entertainment for spectators and well-wishers. Guest speaker Councillor Winston Connolly, from the Ministry of Education, encouraged the students to “keep learning and pursuing success in everything they do”, as well as to utilize other local programmes introduced through the National Workforce Development Agency, solely for the assistance of young people.

Following the preliminary events, the graduation certificates were presented by guest speaker Mr. Connolly and Mr. Hylton Grace, programme instructor, following an inspirational speech by MC Mr. Orville Davis, who said, “I didn’t know what I was doing, or where I was going, until I joined the Passport2Success programme.”

Passport2Success is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs in 2010. This programme falls under the remit of the National Workforce Development Agency’s (NWDA) Training and Development Unit and is managed and delivered by The Wellness Centre; while being sponsored by Butterfield Bank and Webster’s Tours. All participants are registered with the NWDA which provides them access to a dedicated Employment Services Officer, the Job Link Programme and other training and development opportunities offered through the NWDA.

The employment preparedness course offers a 12-week programme for 17 to 23-year-old Caymanians, and a 16-week programme for Caymanian single mothers. Both are designed to enhance workplace readiness skills and increase the employability of participants.

More than half of graduates of the programme are employed 12-months after graduation.

The importance of such programmes was highlighted by Mr. Connolly who said, “Unemployment among our youth is a constant concern, and Passport2Success is one of the ways in which Government is working to combat the issue”.

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

or contact the National Workforce Development Agency at 945-3114.

Photo Caption:

Councillor Winston Connolly (far right), poses with Cohort 17 graduates and administrators.

For the official Cayman Islands Government web portal, www.gov.ky

Web title: Young People Graduate P2S