Cayman’s first four professionally trained youth workers were honoured in a graduation ceremony at the Family Life Centre Wednesday evening.
Beverley McKay, Patricia James, James Myles and Carol Bodden obtained the Youth Development Work diplomas through the partnership with the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.
Programme Manager at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre Glenyss James, congratulated the four graduates.
‘I know that this programme has empowered you to become more analytical, reflective and professional in your approach to youth development work as a whole,’ said Mrs James.
‘I would like to challenge you to take a look at your country’s national development strategy, buy into the vision and ask yourself how you can play a meaningful role in the successful implementation of that strategy.’
She added that as youth workers their task is to help build the kind of society that will provide an enabling environment for young people to maximise their personal, social and economic development.
‘Your training in understanding young people and society, gender-sensitive planning, building partnerships with agencies to prevent wastage of resources, entrepreneurship, and project planning among other areas provided you with core development skills.
‘I implore you to use these skills and use them well, always keeping the bigger picture in front.’
During the course the graduates went through several learning modules such as the learning process; commonwealth values; principles and practice; people in their communities; conflict resolution strategies and skills; project planning monitoring and evaluation; policy, planning and implementation; promoting enterprise and economic development and sustainable development and environment issues in youth development.
The group also scored a first when Ms McKay’s learning journal was used as a best practice in the early modules of the programme.
Best Graduating student Ms McKay in her closing remarks said ‘We will make you proud as we utilize this training to empower our young people.’
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