Sandals, Ministry of Education seek to empower youngsters
SANDALS, BEACHES and Grand Pineapple Negril Resorts, through their fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, continue to engage adolescents in a series of life-and careerempowerment activities throughout western Jamaica.
The luxury-included resort chain is title sponsor of the third staging of the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) Debate. The event, put on by the Hanover-based Youth and Adolescents Policy Division within the ministry, involves 16 schools that will be exposed to topics aimed at increasing civic duties, youth participation, democracy, youth rights in decision making, and social issues affecting the young population.
During the NSSC debate launch and grand social, regional public relations manager for Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple Resorts in Negril Jervene Simpson engaged debaters in an interesting discussion on presentation skills and overcoming the fear factor when speaking in a public forum and during life’s inevitable challenges.
The close to 200 students spanning high schools throughout Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James also participated in a social put on by numerous government and privately owned corporations on the grounds of the Hanover Youth Information Centre. The youngsters and their educators were exposed to career and training opportunities within the hospitality and tourism industry and also provided career guidance and tips to the eager group.
“Students, teachers, and other stakeholders present expressed how much they benefited from the presentations. They received much clarity on techniques and strategies they needed to be more effective debaters and also used the actual presentation as a benchmark when doing their own,” shared Donmarie Latouche, youth empowerment officer at the Hanover Youth & Adolescents Policy Division.
According to Frome Technical’s Edward Waite, “The day’s event did not only allow us to gather much-needed details on debate and presentation tactics, but through the social, we were able to interact with booth representatives who helped us with questions we had about life after school and what to do now to steer us towards our career goals.”
FOCUS ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
In continuing the focus on youth development, the Negril resorts were also key partners in the Rhodes Hall High School’s Career Day and Exposition. With the assistance of the resorts’ public relations, training and development, and the food and beverage departments, students from grades seven-12 at the institution were given the opportunity to field questions and seek guidance on securing employment in the industry. Students were also able to apply for training opportunities in the hotels.
Youngsters particularly interested in the food and beverage department got a chance to interact with Beaches Negril’s garde manger, Keigon Martin, who answered questions on his role in the kitchen and educational/training requirements for his post. Martin also did a live carving demonstration using fruits and vegetables, much to the pleasure of the students.
Camille Drummond, guidance counsellor at the institution, reiterated the importance of hosting career expos and inviting employers into the learning environment. “Many students are interested in a particular profession but do not get the opportunity to speak face-to-face with someone in the field who can answer specific questions,” she said.