On Monday, 1 December 2014, 20 young people seeking to improve their chances of employability became the 15th cohort to graduate from the employment preparedness programme Passport2Success (P2S).

P2S Cohort 15 was the third group this year to complete the 12-week programme. Participants engage in practical hands-on training in occupational, personal and job-specific skills. They participated in work placement, an opportunity to impress potential employers and provided volunteer work through community service hours.

Programme Coordinator Shannon Seymour said many members of this group have raised the bar, “the graduating group have demonstrated their commitment to learning the skills that will secure employment and help them to maintain employment, with 33% of the graduates securing full-time or part-time employment prior to the end of the programme.”

Now in its fourth year, P2S has prepared over 355 young Caymanians to enter the work force with professional-level competencies and renewed confidence.

On average 85 percent of participants complete the programme, with approximately 35 percent having already secured employment by graduation, and 61 percent within a year of graduation. In the 12 months post-graduation, 18 percent of graduates also report furthering their education.

Minister of Education, Hon. Tara Rivers, Acting Chief Officer Christen Suckoo, Deputy Chief Officer Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, Dianne Connolly, NWDA Training & Development Manager, sponsors, internship providers and family members, were among the guests at the ceremony at the Wharf Restaurant.

During the luncheon, participants spoke to attendees expressing how the programme helped them to improve their personal and professional skills. Graduate Johnathan McLean noted the programme taught him to appreciate and respect differences, stating, “This programme made me realize that all our differences make us better.” Classmate Claudia Smith added her tribute to passion and knowledge, “To me, knowledge without action is foolish and sharing (that knowledge) is caring.”

Along with celebrating the graduates, P2S recognized each of the sponsors for their continued contribution ensuring the programme’s success. Among those in attendance were Webster’s Tours, Butterfield Bank and Kirk Freeport. Butterfield Bank opened savings accounts for each of the participants and taught them about personal finance; Webster’s Tours generously provides transportation to participants to attend classes and for group excursions during the programme; and Kirk Freeport provides gift bags for the special awards at every graduation, and helps to teach participants about dress and grooming in the workplace.

Commenting on the programme, Minister Rivers remarked, “The Passport2Success programme provides an excellent opportunity for young people to develop professional skills and build confidence as they enter the workforce. The P2S programme provides these young people with the ability to develop the necessary “soft skills” and a considerable competitive advantage in gaining access to jobs.”

For more information regarding the P2S programme, as well as application forms and start dates for the next cohort, visit www.passport2success.ky or Passport2Success Cayman Islands on Facebook. The programme is a Ministry of Education initiative delivered through the NWDA and is sponsored by Butterfield Bank and Webster’s Tours.

Photo caption:

Hon. Tara Rivers, Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs; Mr. Christen Suckoo, Acting Chief Officer; Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, Deputy Chief Officer; Ms. Dianne Conolly, NWDA’s Manager Training & Development; Mrs. Shannon Seymour, P2S Programme Coordinator; Mr. Hylton Grace, P2S Programme Facilitator, Mr. Kenrick Webster, Sponsor, Webster’s Tours and the 20 graduates of P2S Cohort #15.