The Tribune

COMMONWEALTH Bank yesterday donated $5,000 to Junior Achievement Bahamas to assist the organisation in meeting its goal of making all of their programmes available to every kindergarten, primary and high school student in the country.

Sean Brathwaite, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Commonwealth Bank, said the bank’s donations over the years have ensured more students enroll in the programme.

He said: “It is historically our tradition to invest in the Junior Achievement Bahamas Programme and today’s youth. Our donations are not just ‘signed cheques’, they are the bridge to enrolling more students into the JA Bahamas fold.

“We are committed to assisting the organisation with reaching their goal of programme availability on every island and in every school nationwide. We have mentored over one thousand teens since 1996. Our students have successfully won Speech Competitions, Product of The Year, MDA & MDO Awards and the coveted ‘Company of the Year’ honour.

“Those achievements are not just ours, but a testament to what students gain from these programmes – belief in themselves, guidance, determination and opportunities. We are honoured to be a part of that.”

Junior Achievement Bahamas thanked Commonwealth Bank Ltd for its continued patronage.

“Our organisation is completely dependent on private and public donations. In our line of work, there is nothing more heartbreaking than not being able to offer a programme to a student because of lack of funding. Companies like Commonwealth Bank Ltd understand that their support transforms lives and we are looking forward to our continued partnership,” said Tammy Lecky, executive director of Junior Achievement Bahamas.

Currently, Junior Achievement Bahamas has enrolled six hundred students in their Elementary, JA4Juniors, JA Aspire and Company Programme on the islands of Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

The organisation has already launched its Club Programmes, open to all islands and students from K5 – Grade 12 and anticipates an increase in enrollments by the end of the programme year, June 2022.