Building tomorrow's workforce today
Sean A. Bennett, Youthlink Writer

"You can solve your desire to have a permanent job by the end of the summer." So said Douglas Orane, chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy Limited. He was the keynote speaker at the June 18 orientation for students who participated in the 2008 Summer Employment Programme held at GraceKennedy's head office at Harbour Street, downtown Kingston. The ceremony, which started at 3:15 p.m., was emceed by Andre Anderson, and featured a motivational message from Father Kenneth Richards and a message from Carl Hamilton who relayed his four-years of experience while being a part of the programme. At its closing, those present received their letters of employment, which gave them instructions on where, and the length of time for their employment.

GraceKennedy's Summer Employment Programme has been in existence since 1982 and was the brainchild of the company's late chairman, Carlton Alexander. He identified this as one of the ways in which GraceKennedy could provide some assistance to the community in which it operates. Some 200 high school-to-tertiary-level students, between 16 and 25 years old, were this year given the opportunity to work in non-profit organisations, which serve the wider community and society and would not have the necessary resources to employ persons full-time.

Criteria

Students are required to send a letter of application along with a résumé by May 31 each year, in order to be considered for the programme. While they work, the students benefit from early exposure to the 'corporate jungle', which helps them to assess their interests and aptitudes while making career decisions. "The programme is an opportunity for students to work during the holidays and make a little money to help send them back to school," said Karlene Burgess, coordinator of the programme. Over the years, the students who have been placed have been involved in a wide range of activities, including counselling at summer camps, customer service, laboratory work, accounting, typing and clerical work, library work, research and working with the disabled. Additionally, efforts are made to place the students in their area of study. For example, if a student is pursuing a career in nursing she/he is placed at a hospital. There are two four-week phases, the first of which commenced on June 30 and the second on July 28. Institutions that benefit include the blood bank, hospitals, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, and the Jamaica Society for the Blind.

Tips given by Douglas Orane on how to secure a permanent job:

• Be early for work
• Take initiative
• Know what is required of your job
• Set goals and targets
• Have a spirit of perseverance.

(From left) Nicholi Arthurs, Yanique Smith, Christopher Rose and Bryan Seymour look on with anticipation as they read their employment letters at the GraceKennedy headquarters, Harbour Street, Kingston.

Douglas Orane, chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy Limited. listens attentively to a point being made by Theresa Gillespie, participant in the GraceKennedy Summer Employment Programme. They were at the orientation exercise for participants in the programme, held on June 18. Over 200 secondary and tertiary-level students will benefit from employment facilitated by GraceKennedy in mostly non-profit organisations, across Jamaica, between July and August of this year.

Carl Hamilton, a former participant of the GraceKennedy Summer Employment Programme, shares his experience with students who will benefit from this year's placements.