Chamber event celebrates mentoring programme
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 2019 Mentoring Cayman initiative with a luncheon on Wednesday, 1 May. The six-month programme is a joint partnership with the Ministry of Education, which pairs students with mentors from Chamber member businesses and provides them with careers workshops.
“Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,000 students have benefitted from being a part of the Mentoring Cayman programme,” Chris Kirkconnell, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said in a press release. “This year, we had a record 64 students matched with mentors from the public and private sector.”
He added that the mentoring programme introduces the students to the many career pathways available on island. “Not only are students learning invaluable skills that they will need when entering into the working world, but they are also forming relationships with the leaders of Cayman’s business community,” Kirkconnell said.
The luncheon, held at Grand Old House, featured Young Caymanian Leadership Award recipient, Staci Scott, who discussed how her own mentor inspires her. “I trust her opinion unequivocally, and value the input she has and continues to make on my life more than she will ever know,” Scott said. “Change the name, and this may not be too different of a testimony from those many in this room may also be able to give. Mentorship matters.”
In her address, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly thanked the Chamber for organising the programme, noting her support for mentoring as a way to assist students to gain valuable insights from mentors from the public and private sectors.
“We are sincerely grateful to the Ministry of Education for helping make this amazing programme possible,” Kirkconnell added. “And to all our members who shared their time with the students of the programme.”
The 2020 Mentoring Cayman programme will launch later this year. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor for next year should email reception@caymanchamber.ky for more information.
Category: Education, Local News
