We Say Y.E.S. makes waves with PoS youths RBC Royal Bank lends full support

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1 We Say Y.E.S. makes waves with PoS youths RBC Royal Bank lends full support Port of Spain, Tuesday, July 12, 2016: WITHOUT fuss or fanfare, a relatively young not-for-profit organisation is literally working wonders among at-risk youths in east Port of Spain and other communities, building self-esteem, steering them away from a life of crime and leading them toward the positive path of youth empowerment. The brainchild of founder and chief nurturer, Nichola Harvey-Mitchell, We Say Y.E.S. (Youth Entrepreneurship for Self-Empowerment) was formed in 2012 to create a structured and viable programme for at-risk youths in east Port of Spain and environs as a direct response to counteract an increase in gun violence and gang warfare. In February 2012, I had a vision from God to create a comprehensive programme that would empower these youths to become successful adults, keep them away from a life of crime and help them not to be dependent on government hand-outs, explained Harvey-Mitchell, as she coordinated an outdoor sales operation at the popular Chaguaramas Boardwalk last Saturday. Scores of youths, accompanied by parents, mentors and facilitators from the organisation, offered a variety of snacks, such as mango chow, ice-cream and juices, as well as postcards and other items for sale to members of the public. The project served as an example of a simple business enterprise, a critical step to youth empowerment. With a ready smile on her face, an effervescent Harvey-Mitchell supervised the eager youngsters as they embarked from buses, commandeered a vantage spot at the popular boardwalk, and oversaw the setting up of the items for sale. Although excited by the occasion, the kids obediently followed the instructions of mentors and parents. As Harvey-Mitchell pointed out, sponsorship is a key component in the success of such a wide-ranging and comprehensive programme. We are extremely grateful to our corporate partners who have invested in this programme. Without their support, guidance and financial assistance, we would have barely gotten off the ground. In this respect, I want to single out RBC Royal Bank Trinidad and Tobago for their wholehearted and long-term support, said Harvey-Mitchell..

2 RBC Royal Bank Managing Director, Darryl White, said that RBC was proud to partner with We Say Y.E.S. organisation. RBC prides itself with having one simple purpose helping clients thrive and communities prosper. It s at the heart of all that we do. We believe in building prosperity by caring for the communities in which we live and work. We Say Y.E.S. is performing small miracles in these communities and we feel privileged to play a part in this heart-warming outreach programme, White said. For 12-year old Keyona Edwards, of John John, Laventille, the programme has opened her eyes to a range of possibilities. I am in my second year now and it has been very inspiring. I am learning various skills that I would not have been able to do otherwise. I am learning to sing, play the steelpan and do drumming. I am really enjoying it, said Edwards, as she joined her colleagues in selling items to passers-by. Since its inception in 2012, We Say Y.E.S. has evolved from being a 12-month programme to a three-year programme with two years of contact learning and one year mentorship for youths between the ages of five and 16 years. Initially for the east Port of Spain communities such as Laventille and Beetham Gardens, the organisation has reached out to youths in outlying areas such as St James, Belmont and San Juan. Harvey-Mitchell explained that when she got the vision to help the at-risk youths, she began the search for a comprehensive programme that would keep young people away from a life of crime, empower them to become successful through entrepreneurship and not to be dependent on government. She found the ideal concept in The MarketPlace for Kids Programme, based in North Dakota, United States. They responded positively and gave her permission to customise the programme to suit the Trinidad and Tobago culture and environment. Collaborating with a group of dedicated mentors, experts in various disciplines and volunteers, the visionary young founder and her group crafted the We Say Y.E.S. (Youth Entrepreneurship for Self-Empowerment) programme into reality. The first-year curriculum focuses on Basics of Entrepreneurship and Self-Empowerment concepts and skills, while year two taps into the cultural an artistic talents and potential (TAP) of the youths. Year three students are engaged in project-based activities that focus on business and careers Harvey-Mitchell is assisted in the operations by co-directors Jerry Medford and Stacy Ann Lowe. The programme is guided by a cadre of advisers, experts and module facilitators, including Yvonne Lewis, Valerie Taylor, Jacqui Burgess, Arlene Caines, Judith Mark, Brendon Braithwaite, Marcus Dowdy and Dr Gwendolyn Williams.

3 PHOTO CAPTIONS Youths from the We Say Y.E.S. organisation complete a sale with a teenager as they demonstrate their business skills at the Chaguaramas Boardwalk last Saturday. Happy youths, parents and mentors of We Say Y.E.S. take time to celebrate their efforts as they participate in a sales operation at the Chaguaramas Boardwalk.

4 Two youths from the We Say Y.E.S. land a sale of mango chow during a business project organised by the group at the Chaguaramas Boardwalk. - END- About RBC in the Caribbean With more than 100 years of dedicated service to the region, RBC has a presence in 17 countries, with 77 branches serving more than one million clients. As one of the Caribbean s leading diversified financial services companies, RBC provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking, insurance and trust and asset management services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, small businesses, general commercial entities, regional and multinational corporations and governments. For more information, please visit rbc.com/caribbean. ABOUT RBC Royal Bank of Canada is Canada s largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America s leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We have over 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 37 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

5 RBC helps communities prosper, supporting a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2015, we contributed more than $121 million to causes around the world. Media Contact: Nicole Duke- Westfield Senior Manager, Corporate Communications RBC Financial (Caribbean) Ltd Tel: ext nicole.duke-westfield@rbc.com