KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Multicare Youth Foundation (MYF) hosted a mentorship training and matching workshop as part of the BCIC YUTE Work Project, a year-long training and development programme for at-risk youth in partnership with the British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC) and the HEART/NSTA Trust.

The one-day workshop was held at the Alhambra Inn on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

Volunteer staff members from BCIC, as well as volunteers recruited by MYF, spent the day being advised about the expectations for the one-year mentorship programme, and were trained on how to effectively build a productive mentor/mentee relationship.

Presentations on the day involved topics such as goal-setting, establishing boundaries, what it means to be a mentor, and psychological first aid. The volunteers were given scenarios for which they had to create a plan of response to deal with the physical and mental well-being of their mentees as well as themselves.

Project Manager at MYF, Taneisha Stoney Dryden, explained that the purpose of the training and match-making session was to ensure that the mentors were aware of their responsibilities and commitment to the mentees, but also to ensure that the best possible partnerships were formed for an optimal experience.

“Our process is not one that is random but one that is organic. We don’t just put people together without any consideration for the value that a particular mentor can provide for a particular mentee. So, we have participants come to this seminar to break the ice and then interact with each other to see if any chemistry develops between them. This procedure makes it easier for them to form a more meaningful relationship with each other, than if we had just assigned a mentor to a mentee,” Stoney Dryden said.

Lori-Ann Glasgow, General Manager for Marketing at BCIC, who was trained as a volunteer mentor through the programme, expressed her satisfaction with the partnership, and the benefit for the participating youth.

“I can’t say enough about the job MYF is doing with the mentees and just how passionate and dedicated they are in ensuring that this is the best experience possible for them. It’s been really rewarding getting to spend time with the mentees and just listening to them talk about their goals and what they hope to accomplish with this opportunity.”

The BCIC YUTE Work Project is a part of BCIC’s 60th anniversary celebrations for which the company has engaged in initiatives that give something back to the people of Jamaica.