The Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman held its 6th annual Key Leader event on 18-20 October at the St Ignatius High School campus. Forty-nine students participated in the weekend-long event.

The students, including five from Cayman Brac, ranged in age from 14 to 18. Five past Key Leader attendees were also on hand as student facilitators, guiding their assigned “neighborhood” and allowing for their own personal growth.

The annual Key Leader programme is designed to help teenagers develop leadership skills and is open to all teenagers. Participants are taught the five principles of service leadership: personal integrity, personal growth, respect for yourself and others, building community and the pursuit of excellence.

This year the Kiwanis Club hosted Meghan Ward-Bopp from Indianapolis as Lead Facilitator. Ms Ward-Bopp, who represents Kiwanis International, leads several Key Leader programmes throughout the US each year. Local Kiwanis President, Kadi Merren assisted Ms Ward-Bopp as site coordinator.

“I have been involved in Key Leader for three years and I am always impressed with both the curriculum and the students that attend. It’s great to see the younger and more shy students, especially those from the Brac start to grow into leaders in their ‘neighbourhoods’ throughout the weekend as they are challenged to think outside of their comfort zones and work with other students that they have never met before. We could not have hosted such an incredible weekend without the help of sponsors, such as our main sponsor this year, Home Gas.. I think that we will see great things come from the students that have attended Key Leader and I look forward to many more years of working with this great programme.”

Each year the event is offered to interested students for only a $25 commitment fee, through the generous sponsorship of the Cayman business community. Joining Home Gas as major sponsor were supporting sponsors St Ignatius School, Reliable Industries, Casanovas, Security Centre, Budget, PwC, CIC and the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps.

PHOTOS: Paul de Freitas