YMCA ousts Outreach Association for afterschool contract
(CNS): The education ministry’s Extended After School Programme will be delivered this coming academic year by the Cayman branch of the YMCA after the organisation was the winning bidder following a competitive tendering process for delivery of the programme. The programme, which costs government over half a million dollars a year, serves around 1,500 students and offers a range of activities in the fields of agriculture, music, arts and culture, sports, mechanics and academic support, was previously delivered by the Cayman Outreach Association.
The afterschool programme was established in 2011 to keep kids out of trouble when school is out and reduce risky behaviour. The programme was developed with the help of Cayman Outreach but officials from the ministry said that the YMCA, which was established in Cayman in 2012 provided a successful proposal for the 2015/2016 academic year.
Students who attended the programmes can choose from a diverse list of things to do, from help with homework or computer work to learning to drive or skateboard, as well as learning and taking part in local heritage activities.
The programme is open to all government school students and is offered at seven different government school sites on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, including Red Bay Primary, Edna M. Moyle Primary, George Town Primary, Sir John A. Cumber Primary, Clifton Hunter High School and John Gray High School and Layman E. Scott Snr. High School for both primary and high school students.
The YMCA, which is a non-profit charitable organisation, will take over the programme next month but in a release about the changeover this week, the ministry offered its “appreciation for the important contribution made by the Cayman Outreach Association (COA) for previously managing the EASP and in helping to develop the programme since its inception.”
COA is a non-profit Christian organisation which promotes unity and participation in community-based projects working with churches and other organisations.
Category: Community, Education, Local News
Why isn’t Savannah Primary on this list? Don’t understand why they keep leaving them out. I am sure students there can benefit from the program. Not to mention it is probably the largest primary school in Cayman. The school/teachers/parents/students could use the help!
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Cayman Outreach Association (a registered local charity; an indigenous and interdenominational Christian organization), the Extended After School Programme Administration Team and most importantly, the students and parents who benefited from the godly principles, mentoring and wholesome activities which were the focus of the programme, I say a Big God Bless you and THANK YOU. We appreciate all you have done over the past three and a half (3½) years; the wonderful job done and achievements we are sincerely proud of.
Additionally, you helped us to achieve “Best Practice” in our Management of the Extended After School Programme [EASP], and our Audits by Krys Global and Deloitte were sound at International Standards with no recommendations. Well Done! Excellent!
Again, it was a pleasure working with you, we appreciate All your hard work, commitment, dedication, faithfulness, and the love you have demonstrated towards ministry and making a difference in the lives of our “At Risk” youths of the Cayman Islands. “…know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Corinthians 15:58. Raphael Bodden (Caymanian).
Do we just have the kids enrolled at the school they attend?
I am hopeful that YMCA will run an effective program. I have one concern though and that is that so far the YMCA has catered to middle income children with their own YMCA programs charging $175 + per camps. I am hopeful that they realize the After School Program is free or at minimal costs to parents and that they do not take the Governments money and then use price/costs to exclude the very children the program was created to serve. The belief that taking care of the 10% of the population is what has created the economic and social divide that exist in the Country. YMCA please don’t continue that strategy – as it has and is proving wrong and a failure.
Just local schools? Discrimination again against expats…
When summer camps are run, they are more than 50% filled by expat children. What is your gripe?
Don’t have a gripe, no kids here, just sh!t stirring, see what pops up..more interesting replies on LBGT..
at least the burglaries should go down next week
Aren’t all schools local schools. Last I checked, Caymanian children go to private schools, no? I hope you don’t make them feel like they don’t belong there.
Here’s the thing with private schools, with all the money you pay, you should expect these programs!
And by the way. I am an Expat. #divisionsgottastop #bothwaystoo
Can potentially gay children enrol?
I am sure they will find many ways to have a good time. They have everything for you men to enjoy. You can hang out with all the boys.
Why not a more neutral headline such as “YMCA Wins…” or YMCA receives…”
Ousts perhaps could make pole think something wasn’t above board. Good headline catcher I guess, but given this day in age perhaps not blowing on potential flames is best.
Young man, there’s no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new town
There’s no need to be unhappy.
Young man, there’s a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.
You all know the rest !!
Or was this song banned in Cayman due homophobia?
What about extending the programme to Private School?
No! One of the main reasons one pays for private education is to ensure one’s children socialise and befriend friends of a suitable social class. Mixing up public and private activities would undermine that benefit.
I think this is hog wash from a member of the lower class.
As someone who has paid a small fortune to put might children through private education I can confirm that I agree with the sentiment expressed by the poster. The single most consistent metric in future happiness, success, wealth and health indices for kids is the social status of their circle of school friends. The best thing a parent can give their kids is the opportunity of forging such bonds with those as high up a socio-economic system as possible, and the more expensive the school fees the better the chances of that happening.
Ummm…No a proper education is the most important part. If you paid a small fortune to educate you children but they did not learn the skills needed to succeed knowing some of the upper class kids will do nothing for them but dig there depression/desperation hole even bigger.
Read the evidence. You would be surprised how wrong you are. Quality of education is much less consistent a factor than socio- economic status of the parents of a child’s school friends.
Actually one of the main reasons one pays for private education in Cayman is because expats have no choice. Systematic Segregation.
That isn’t true. You can send your kids to public schools and yes it costs but is a pittance to what you pay for private.
The charge would be recoverable in a legal claim against the government for breach of human rights.
Why would anyone who loved their kids do that?
What about the impact on non-Christians?
No impact. All are welcome. As it should be. My daughter was a part of the summer YMCA Counselors In Training program and this point was stressed and upheld, in my opinion.
What after school program? First I have heard of it? Funny, when you hear about the gangs, its always stated oh the young boy was always on his own cause it was a one parent home, how come he wasn’t in the after school program? How come there are so many children are left to attend themselves? How come they aren’t enrolled in this so called after school program?
Ask the big questions? Where are the parents? Who should see to it that a child/children attend? I assume you are expecting people to go around looking for them, to get them in the program. Do your part an enroll them.
Ummm, ask their parents?