A major supporter of the Junior Achievement of the Cayman Islands programme, the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce is happy to continue its help this year – its twentieth year of assistance in helping Cayman’s youth in making a successful transition from school to career and thereby reaching its full potential.

Joining with the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central as one of the programme’s most important sponsors, the Chamber of Commerce has lent its unwavering support to the programme by providing free-of-charge office space at their Governor’s Square offices for the programme’s administrator.

Chamber CEO Wil Pineau, CCE says that the Chamber recognises the value the programme has created for young people about to embark on a career within the business environment.

“JA is one of the most important youth development programmes operating in the Cayman Islands today. The various programmes help to provide our youth with invaluable skills that will lead to their success in the workplace. They learn teamwork, business ethics, money management, leadership, business planning, marketing, public relations and sales and marketing. Hundreds of Chamber volunteers in numerous sponsoring businesses over the past 20 years have assisted the students to learn behaviours and best practices that will lead to their success in the workplace and in life. In fact, many students have taken on leadership roles in our community and many of them proudly cite their experience in JA as being an instrumental experience on their road to success and achievement. The Chamber Council, members and staff are proud to be partners with Rotary Central for this outstanding youth development programme.”

Mr. Paul Byles, President of Junior Achievement, says this vital support that the programme has received from the Chamber over the years means that young people can align themselves with Cayman’s corporate environment from the very start of their time in the programme.

“The Chamber’s involvement with the Junior Achievement programme has meant that young people are able to appreciate how businesses operate in Cayman,” he says. “Although schooling can go a long way to prepare a young person for their career path, there really is no substitute for hands-on experience and so we are truly grateful to the Chamber for assisting the programme in this way.”

To ensure the continued success of the Junior Achievement programme, a newly developed Corporate Ambassador programme was launched last year. Due to the Chamber’s continued support, they have been recognised as one of the Corporate Ambassadors. Each Ambassador commits to donating $10,000 annually over a period of three years, which provides a steady stream of funds for the foreseeable future.

Junior Achievement is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in the Cayman Islands in 2012.  It is supported by many corporate sponsors including its eight Corporate Ambassadors: HSBC, Rotary Central, Dunkin’ Donuts, Caledonian Global Financial Services, Maples and Calder, BDO, Cayman Islands Government and Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce. For more information about becoming a Corporate Ambassador, please e-mail Paul Byles through Junior Achievement at [email protected].