Main Story 2011 Year in Review 

Mentoring Cayman has got off to an excellent start this year with 50 outstanding students matched up with 50 mentors from Cayman’s local business community. Launched in 2002, Mentoring Cayman is an excellent youth development initiative that has assisted more than 300 high achieving high school students to become the next generation of business and community leaders.

The official launch of this year’s programme, under the distinguished patronage of Governor Duncan Taylor, took place in November with the first workplace visit taking place on 9 December, 2011.

The programme consists of one workplace visit each month for seven months, as well as a three informal events organised by the Chamber to allow the entire group to get together and share their experiences in a more social setting.

The Mentoring Cayman Programme is a joint initiative of the Chamber and the Ministry of Youth and has been designed to motivate students to achieve their very best in school; introduce students to potential new career paths; encourage students to go on to post-secondary education; help students understand their own strengths and capabilities; and develop a positive work ethic.  
Before beginning their mentoring roles, Mentors were required to attend two half-day workshops to better understand the roles they will be playing and the expectations of all involved. Facilitator Rod Waddell led the workshop that focused on three main areas:

The first titled “Understanding Yourself and Others”; the second on Career Development and how to assist students with matching their personal and academic strengths to a potential career path, encouraging mentees to pursue their dreams; and finally the review of the Mentor’s Roles and Responsibilities.

Mr. Waddell has over 20 years training experience and has been involved in the Mentoring Cayman programme since its inception, not only as a workshop facilitator, but also as a mentor himself.

Participating businesses in this year’s programme are: The Rack Clothing Store, PwC, Missing Link Agency, Harneys, Athena International Management, Tortuga Rum Company, AIP Limited, different sectors of the Cayman Islands Government, Grant Thornton, Rainbow Realty, Island Heritage, Cayman Immigration Consultant Services Ltd, AIS Fund Administration, Mourant Ozannes, GlobeOp Financial Services (Cayman) Limited, Credit Suisse, Civil Aviation Authority, Marsh Management Services, Decco Ltd, Cayman Hearing Centre, Smile Dental Clinic, Citco Fund Services, Digicel, A step Ahead Physiotherapy, Logic, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Samson & McGrath, Greenlight RE, PKF (Cayman) LTD., CIMA, Office Supply, UBS, Eagle View Enterprises, Active Capital LTD, WestStar TV Ltd., Stuarts Walker Hersant.

Students were chosen from the following participating schools: John Gray High School, Clifton Hunter High School, Cayman International School, Cayman Prep and High School, St. Ignatius Catholic School and Triple C School.

“Mentoring will change your life and the life of a student striving for a brighter future.

The programme is structured to expose students to the workplace environment and culture and in doing so it affords them insight they may otherwise be denied,” said Wil Pineau, CEO of the Chamber.

 
For more information on the Mentoring Cayman programme contact Leanna Jarvis at the Chamber of Commerce on 949 8090 or email:
leanna.jarvis@caymanchamber.ky