Another cohort of students has passed through a maritime career programme with flying colours.

The Maritime Springboard Programme ushered off 11 teenagers aged between 16 and 19 years after they graduated from the seven-week maritime career intensive.

The programme, which has been in operation since 2018 and has had 75 cross through its ranks, is a collaboration between the Endeavour Sailing Programme and Bermuda College.

The objective is to give young adults a gateway to a career in the maritime industry.

Osiris Buffonge-Hunt, 17, said that his time in the programme was great for helping him plan the next stage of his life.

The Berkeley Institute pupil said: “My knowledge and understanding of the maritime industry has increased dramatically after completing the Endeavour Maritime Springboard Programme because I now understand the steps I must take to get my goals.”

Yndi-Amir Lottimore, 19, said that he enjoyed the career days involved with Springboard because it allowed him to fully examine his options.

He explained: “My understanding of the maritime industry has increased because I now understand what the maritime industry actually does for Bermuda and how important it is to Bermuda.

“I’ve also become more confident in myself and learnt some beneficial skills for life as a result of participating in the Endeavour Maritime Springboard Programme.”

The Springboard programme gives participants skills development and hands-on training with jobs in the maritime industry.

Participants said the programme has helped them to expand their knowledge of the industry, improve their interpersonal skills and develop personal connections.

Ten of the participants first started sailing through the Endeavour Middle School Programme, while eight of them completed the Endeavour Graduate Programme.

Sivaja’ Perinchief completed Endeavour’s Assistant Instructor Programme, which involved volunteering hundreds of hours with younger sailors, and was recently crowned Endeavour’s Youth Volunteer of the Year.

Jennifer Pitcher, the executive director of Endeavour, said the success of the students was the result of their hard work and the commitment of their teachers and instructors.

She added that she was “extremely proud” of the graduates, saying: “They each demonstrated remarkable commitment and effort embracing opportunities to learn as much as possible to advance their skills, knowledge and experience.

“We wish them all the very best for their future endeavours.”

Karen Smith, co-ordinator of the Bermuda College’s Athora Division of Professional and Career Education, said: “The Bermuda College is excited to continue our partnership with Endeavour for the seventh year for this hands-on training and career development initiative.

“It is inspiring to see Bermudian youth embrace opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and experience to better prepare them for working in the maritime sector while gaining exposure to different career pathways.”