Summer 2005 will be more meaningful to 280 students who were selected to participate in the GraceKennedy 2005 Summer Employment Programme.

The students from secondary and tertiary institutions across Jamaica, will be placed in several government and non-government organisations while GraceKennedy Limited remunerates them for their service to the organisations.

Group Employee Relations Manager, Christopher Bond, says that the annual Summer Employment Programme attempts to alleviate the problem of a lack of work experience in future and current job applicants. It is also a means of giving back to the society "that has made GraceKennedy successful."

Jodi-Kay Brown, student participating in Programme, poses a question to Mr. Orane.

At the June 16 Programme orientation, Mr. Bond told students they were privileged to be a part of the programme; "for every four applicants, only one was chosen," he explained. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Senator Douglas Orane, also addressed the students. He related his early job experiences to show that valuable life lessons await programme participants. He encouraged them to be receptive to each task handed to them because they would see the value of it later in life. Mr. Orane also spent time giving career direction to a few participants who asked him for advice.

Some of the organisations in which the students will work are YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association), The Blood Bank and Jamaica Association for the Deaf. Each student will be assessed by their place of employment for punctuality and respect, among other things. They will be able to use these assessments as job recommendations.

Albert Anderson, Sales Manager- Eastern Region World Brands Services Ltd, who acted as Master of Ceremonies at the orientation affirmed that the students should be ready to take on any challenge in the workplace once they successfully complete the Programme.

Posted: June 24, 2005