The Cayman Islands
Chamber of Commerce celebrated the successful completion of the 2019
Mentoring Cayman programme during an appreciation reception on
Tuesday, June 25, at Government House.

The six-month
programme is a partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth,
Sports, Agriculture and Lands. This year, the programme paired 56 top
achieving students from nine high schools with mentors drawn from the
public and private sector.

The reception was
attended by parents, as well as principals and teachers of the
participating schools. The schools represented were Cayman Academy,
Cayman International School, Cayman Preparatory and High School,
Clifton Hunter High School, Hope Academy, John Gray High School, St.
Ignatius Catholic School, Triple C School, and Wesleyan Christian
Academy.

Dr Shari Smith from
the Scholarship Secretariat of the Ministry delivered a message on
behalf of the Minister, Hon. Julianna O’Connor-Connolly. The
message contained words of congratulations and encouragement for both
students and mentors.

“Students, I’m
sure there is a sense of tremendous honour and accomplishment for
reaching this point. To be nominated as a participant in this
programme is but only one example of the rewards you can continue to
receive as you strive towards excellence,” Dr Smith said.
“Mentors, you are to be especially commended for your dedication
and positive impact on this important Mentoring Cayman programme, and
my Ministry looks forward to the continuation of your valiant
participation in the upcoming year. Mentoring Cayman continues to
epitomise the definition of successful private and public sector
partnership and true corporate social responsibility,” she said.

Chamber President,
Christopher Kirkconnell said more than 1,000 students have benefitted
from the programme since its inception in 2002. “The programme
serves as an introduction to the many career paths available on
island. Not only are students learning invaluable skills that they
will need when entering the working world, but they are also forming
relationships with the leaders of Cayman’s business community,”
Kirkconnell said.

Deputy Governor, the
Hon. Franz Manderson, who represented His Excellency, the Governor
and patron of the programme, Mr. Martyn Roper, assisted with the
presentation of awards. In addition to students and mentors,
executives from the sponsoring companies, Caribbean Alliance
Insurance, Cayman Water, Cox Lumber, Knighthead Annuity and Life
Assurance, and Rocky’s Diamond Gallery, were also presented with
recognition awards.

The 2020 Mentoring
Cayman programme will be launched later this year. Persons interested
in becoming mentors for the 2020 programme should contact the Chamber
at programmes@caymanchamber.ky
for further details.