The Tribune

COMMONWEALTH Bank officials yesterday established a Junior Achievement fund with an initial investment of $100,000.

During a press conference at the bank’s head office on Mackey Street, bank president Ian Jennings said the bank was pleased to align itself with an organisation such as JA Bahamas, as the two share many core values.

Mr Jennings said JA Bahamas provides hands-on learning experience to help students achieve greater financial literacy and garner opportunities for social development, academic enrichment and personal growth.

Commonwealth Bank has a long history of supporting Junior Achievement through its scholarship programme and varied initiatives.

Mr Jennings said: “We are most proud of the members of our JA companies we have hosted during the past 14 years as they have been recognised as ‘top rated’, ‘company of the year’ and ‘most distinguished achievers’.”

Today, after 33 years in existence, JA Bahamas remains a top youth programme in the Bahamas providing entrepreneurial and economic training to more than 3,500 students annually in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Long Island, Andros (North, South, Central), Mangrove Cay and the Berry Islands.

To date, more than 25,000 “achievers” have advanced through the programme with an alumni list covering the who’s who in the Bahamas in just about every industry and sector.