PIN students celebrated at George Town Primary
PwC volunteers with graduating PIN students
(CNS Local Life): The PIN (Positive Intervention Now) programme celebrated the end of another school year helping George Town Primary students, with a closing ceremony, held Thursday, 15 June, which included parents, sponsors, students, school representatives and volunteers. The event showcases the efforts of the youngsters, with children who excelled over the year given special awards.
The volunteers on the programme, which aims to ensure that youngsters keep on the right path as they mature, contribute to its overall success, with PwC staff on hand at the closing ceremony to help celebrate the milestone with the students.
The programme, which benefits 10 and 11 year olds who attend George Town Primary, runs after school. Devised by the education and youth committee of St George’s Anglican Church, PIN targets students identified at the school who may benefit from the programme whose aim is to provide a nurturing and welcoming environment that helps to guide both the minds and spirits of the young people who attend.
Angilynn Chan-Baraud, who sits on the board and is PwC’s business development senior manager, has coordinated the firm’s involvement with PIN with the assistance of some colleagues.
“This year, as well as ensuring we had a rotating body of volunteers who come every Wednesday to work with the students on subjects such as maths, we also set the students the task of making a poster of ‘Cayman through my eyes’,” said Chan-Baraud.
“They were then required to give a presentation to a panel of PwC ‘judges’ on their project. The aim was to take the students out of their comfort zone, push them a little to give them the confidence to speak in public. We wanted them to find their voice and make it fun at the same time. The students rose to the challenge.”
Kurt Bulgin, PwC senior associate, has been a volunteer with the PIN programme for three years. “I really enjoy working with the students; I love their energy,” he said. “There’s always a big warm welcome for us when we arrive.”
He explained his motivation for volunteering his year: “I want to play a role in helping the young people onto a positive path in life and I find the experience extremely fulfilling.”
Angilynn Chan-Baraud with Ciara Myles, PIN Girl of the Year
Chan-Baraud said the firm was proud of their PwC volunteers who regularly work with the students. “We allocated specific tables of students to our volunteers and in that way they could build up a great rapport and relationship with the students,” she explained.
“It has helped our volunteers to build consistent relationships with the students and hopefully make a stronger impact at the individual level.”
She also commended the students for their outstanding efforts this year. “It always gives us great pleasure to see how well the students have performed over the year through the PIN programme. Well done to all the students who have excelled, whether that is in maths, public speaking, reading or good behavior.”
PIN Coordinator Marlene Ricketts said that the fact that PwC has been a supporter of the programme since its inception nine years ago is one of the reasons for the programme’s continued success.
“Every year we welcome a new set of young people who are just starting out year six at George Town Primary School and we look forward to helping them at so many levels – academically, spiritually, emotionally and even nutritionally, as we provide a hot nutritious meal for all PIN students,” Ricketts said.
“It is a huge undertaking for one coordinator and so our PIN volunteers make up an integral part of the programme. In particular, PwC’s involvement has been invaluable because not only do they give financially, which is always appreciated, most importantly they also give of their time as well. Students are able to interact with individuals on an almost one-to-one basis which is so rewarding for the young people.”
Ricketts added that the students very much enjoyed their ‘Cayman through my eyes’ project, which allowed them to express themselves artistically through prose, poetry and imagery. “We ended up with some very artistic posters which we used to decorate the hall at the closing ceremony, along with many other projects that the students have been involved with,” she said.
“Parents were then able to view the efforts of their children at the end of the closing ceremony. We are so grateful to PwC and all our volunteers for helping to make our ninth PIN programme year such a resounding success.”
Category: Education, Primary School
