The Youth services Unit is pleased to join with the National Drug Council and the National Youth Commission for the SIZZLING SUMMER SERIES. This joint initiative combines the Youth Services “Carpentry, Mechanic and Culinary Arts” vocational programme, the National Drug Council’s “Fearless Factor Camp” and the National Youth Commission’s “Career Shop.”
The components of the Sizzling Summer Series provide; education, vocational and practical skills for the youth of Cayman. This series will seek to address some of the risk factors of Cayman’s youth as identified through local data collected by the NDC. It will also allow for the application of some of the identified protective factors for the successful development of our youth.
Skills training in carpentry and mechanic work, educational workshops on impact of drug use, life skills training and application and preparation for choosing a career path will be explored in this series of workshops.
“We are pleased”, reports Ms. Katherine Whittaker, Head of the Youth Services Unit, “that NDC and the National Youth Commission have chosen the Youth Services Unit to continue these programmes. These are sound established programmes that seek to keep our youth meaningful engaged during the summer. Among other objectives of the programmes is the opportunity for our youth to recreate in a safe environment and work on important aspects of their lives such as their career path, further education or training. This series of camps are meant to alleviate some of the anxiety felt by some youth about choosing subjects for further study in Year 10 and what they will do after high school as well as the opportunity to put into practice or clarify important life skills taught during the school year.”
“I am pleased that the National Drug Council has been able to work with the Youth services Unit in the transfer of “Fearless Factor Camp.” This summer programme which was successfully operated by the NDC for the past 3 years with the support of local service clubs and businesses is a much needed programme. The NDC does pilot programmes within the Cayman Islands where there are identified gaps in services. It is then the goal of the NDC to transfer these programmes to the most appropriate agency with the most skilled and experienced staff” says Joan West-Dacres the Executive Director for the National Drug Council.
The Sizzling Summer Series will take place July 8th to July 25th 2008 for youth ages 12 to 17 years. The Series will be held at the George Town Primary School, and George Hicks High School Campus.
The National Drug Council, the National Youth Commission and the Youth Services Unit are not affiliated with any other summer camps or programmes this year.
For more information please call the YSU at Tel. 943-1127, Fax. 943-1128.