(CNS Business): The number of students participating in the Junior Achievement’s Company Programme for this school year has increased substantially over 2011/2012. The 294 students in Grand Cayman and 40 on Cayman Brac who enrolled this month in the programme that teaches young people about the business world marks an increase of more than 140 over the previous year. In addition, compared to 2011, two more sponsor companies have signed on, bringing that total to 14 for this year. JA President Paul Byles pointed out that the increased numbers resulted from the efforts of many people involved in the programme.

“The growth in students numbers is a fantastic achievement and credit must go to our Programme Director Teresa Foster for keeping our student participation numbers strong,” he said. “I also want to thank our Corporate Ambassadors, other sponsors, advisors and other volunteers for everything they have done to contribute to yet another great start to the Junior Achievement year."

The yearly 18-week programme gives young people the opportunity to start and run their own company, electing their own boards and providing a viable product they create.  Volunteer mentors from sponsor companies guide the students through the process.

The continual growth of the programme translates into more and more students gaining valuable business experience every year, Foster added.

“It is so exciting to see the greater number of students that have enrolled in the Company Programme this year. It is clear how much the students value the experience and knowledge they obtain by working together with their peers and our amazing sponsors and volunteer advisors, who are the backbone of this programme.  We at JA have great expectations for this year and are looking forward to all the exciting products that will be available soon,” she said.

Vumi Dube, a lead advisor with sponsor CITCO, sees great value in the programme.

“This is my sixth year of volunteering for JA and what motivates me is the outcome of the programme – the way the programme changes the students to be achievers in running a business. Seeing the students come and learn and benefit from the programme is challenging at times but a very rewarding and fulfilling experience,” he said.

As a valuable supplement to the Company Programme, JA is preparing once again to launch this year’s school-based courses – Business Ethics for high school and Economics for Success for middle school, which attracted 605 and 535 students, respectively, in 2011.

Foster hopes to attract even more students next year, and notes that JA is always looking for volunteers to present programmes at schools across Grand Cayman.

Anyone interested in volunteering for these important initiatives, please contact Teresa Foster at jacayman@candw.ky or 949-4306.