Living with a disability has hampered Amerilis Cain from gaining employment, but she believes that participation in the Caribbean Cement Company Limited pilot workshop for employment for persons with disabilities, will improve her chances.
“I am looking forward to this initiative. I think it is a great opportunity to integrate myself into the work world,” she noted.
“I have been turned down a lot in seeking employment because of my disability. So, this will create more avenues for me,” she added.
Ms. Cain, who has been certified in housekeeping, was born with a deformed arm and is from the community of Jack Vale in 10 miles, Bull Bay, St. Andrew.
Another participant, 22-year-old Abigail Grant, who has challenges with her eyesight, also welcomed the cement company’s initiative.
Both women are part of a cohort of four participating in the workshop, which was organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia, whose former Ambassador, His Excellency Jairo Clopatofsky, is confined to a wheelchair.
For a period of two weeks, the participants, which are all women, will be guided by trained instructors in topics covering understanding the employment application process, interviewing for a job and time management essentials among others.
Once completed, they will be certified, and one person given a period of employment at Carib Cement.
Managing Director, Yago Castro, explained that this workshop fits into the company’s efforts of becoming a more diverse and inclusive work environment.
“We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment and want to extend this practice not just to our employees but to those we serve in society. This will allow for greater economic and social growth among the people. This move is a step in that direction,” he said.
Mr. Castro was speaking at a brief opening ceremony of the workshop at the cement company’s sports club at Rockfort, Kingston, on November 29.
As part of its diversity and inclusion plan, Carib Cement has introduced a lactation room for breast-feeding women, introduced paternity leave and made changes to recruitment to ensure an unbiased process.
Meanwhile, Chargé d’affaires at the Colombian Embassy, Andrés Pérez, hailed Carib Cement for its efforts of becoming more inclusive and diverse especially for moving ahead with the workshop.
“Creating more inclusive spaces is how we build more resilient and better societies,” Mr. Pérez noted.
Managing Director of Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), Yago Castro (left), shares a photograph with from (second left) Amerilis Cain, Sandrean Bailey and Abigail Grant, who are participants of the cement company’s employment workshop for persons with disabilities, at CCCL’s sports club in Rockfort on November 29. Others from second right are Chargé d’affaires at the Colombian Embassy, Andrés Pérez and Human Resources Director, Jorge Camelo. The workshop, which is geared towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities and extending Carib Cement’s diversity and inclusivity programme, was organized in collaboration with the former ambassador of Colombia, His Excellency, Jairo Clopatofsky.
Abigail Grant (left), and Amerilis Cain, take part in Caribbean Cement Company Limited’s employment workshop for persons with disabilities, at the company’s sports club in Rockfort on November 29. The workshop, which is geared towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities and extending Carib Cement’s diversity and inclusivity programme, was organized in collaboration with the former ambassador of Colombia, His Excellency, Jairo Clopatofsky.
