HALSE HALL, Clarendon — Driven by the need to provide guidance for young people, the Jamalco mentorship programme recently provided training for 22 volunteers who will work with youth perceived to be in need of support.

A news release said the two hour long session which was facilitated by Jamalco’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) coordinator, Yolanda Lee and focused on offering tips on good mentorship.

Community Relations Officer at the bauxite/alumina plant, Phillip Biggs offered an overview of the programme, pointing out that mentorship was one of Jamalco’s flagship programmes. Vere Technical High School had been a major beneficiary, he said.

“We observed that Vere Technical High School was always in the news for the wrong reasons and we became concerned that the high school closest to us was being shown in a negative light. It was out of that concern that we started the mentorship programme at Vere Technical High School,” said Biggs.

Lee emphasised the value of proper guidance for young people.

“A mentor is one who guides, trains, advises and promotes the career advancement of the mentee. People around you influence the person you will become and it’s important to instill the possibility of hope in the mentees,” she said.

The newly trained mentors were presented with certificates of participation at the end of the session and will meet their mentees for the first time at an initiation ceremony in November.