Single women trying to raise a child or children on their own can find it difficult to enhance their career prospects. They need financial resources, child care and other support to pursue opportunities.

The Passport2Success programme (P2P), run by the Ministry of Education, Training and Employment (METE), is focussing its current course on single women. The orientation for this new group was Monday, 16 January 2012, at the International College of the Cayman Islands.

This addition to the P2P portfolio is an expansion of the original model, which concentrated on school leavers; however; P2P intends to expand to serve other groups that can benefit from its skills.

The 20 week course will expose each of the women to parenting advice, employability skills and keys to workplace success. As a part of the programme the women will also be on the job two days per week beginning in week four. During this time, the curriculum will be providing an emphasis on acquisition of tangible skills that the women can use to secure employment.

Mrs Shannon Seymour of the Wellness Centre stated, “We are very excited to begin the expansion of the Passport2Success programme. Single mothers carry an incredible responsibility for the parenting of children and running of households in our community. Ensuring that those single mothers who want to gain employment are given the skills and opportunities they need to be successful is critical. Supporting single mothers who want to provide their children with a positive role model of independence and self-sufficiency is something we at The Wellness Centre are very proud to be a part of.”

Speaking at the orientation, the Hon. Rolston Anglin, Minister for Education, Training and Employment, urged each of the women to not do this course for their children but do it for themselves.

He continued by saying, “The programme is successful because of its participants! Each of you is here to take a risk to change and seemingly provide a change for your kids. We look forward to what you will achieve through this programme.”

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

 Photo by Information Officer Kristi Anderson