Fair launched to attract student volunteers
Youth Services Coordinator James Myles
(CNS Local Life): The Youth Services Unit (YSU) is hosting the Cayman Islands’ inaugural Student Volunteer Fair on Friday, 22 June 2018, with 23 charities and non-profit organisations signed up for booths at the event. The fair will allow students (Years 9-13) the chance to speak directly to the organisations, and to give the latter a chance to highlight their work and provide information on the range of available volunteer opportunities.
The fair will be held at the John Gray High School gymnasium from 9am to 3pm. As an added incentive for students to participate, the YSU will hold random prize draws throughout the day.
One exhibitor will receive $1,000 for its organisation from the fair’s co-sponsor, Island Heritage Insurance, during the morning session (9am-11:45am). The company will also hold a draw in the afternoon session (1pm-3pm), and the winner will be featured as one of the charities of choice in next year’s Island Heritage CharityDrive. Exhibitors who win the first prize or are already featured in this year’s Island Heritage CharityDrive are not eligible to enter the later draw.
“As a unit we are always looking for ways to invest in our youth,” said YSU Youth Services Coordinator James Myles in a press release. “We decided to organise this fair, to fill the very real need students now have, to find compatible volunteer opportunities to complete the mandatory community service requirements necessary to graduate.”
Myles explained that the voluntary organisations and charities were selected for their ability to offer meaningful community work assignments and for their capacity to take on multiple volunteers.
“I am delighted that our ministry is leading the way in this public and private sector initiative, as the fair’s platinum sponsor partnering with Island Heritage,” said Minister for Youth Juliana O’Connor-Connolly. “The role of the Youth Services Unit, as well as that of government, is to encourage initiatives that provide opportunities for young people. The Student Volunteer Fair will help students find opportunities that will help shape them into well-rounded citizens, who contribute to their society and find community causes they are passionate about.”
Participating organisations in the fair are the Cayman Islands Humane Society, Cayman HospiceCare, Cayman Islands Red Cross, National Council of Voluntary Organisations, Family Resource Centre, Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts, One Dog At A Time, Feed Our Future, YMCA, National Drug Council, Acts Of Random Kindness, Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, Cayman Heart Fund, Cayman Islands Cancer Society, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman, Rotary Club, National Trust for the Cayman Islands, Cayman National Cultural Foundation, Special Olympics Cayman Islands, Plastic Free Cayman, Cayman Drama Society and Impact 345.
To accommodate the students, schools will be assigned either the morning or the afternoon session to attend.
Category: Community, Service Organisations, Youth
