PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, August 20th, the Kidz At Sea Foundation organized a Graduation Ceremony for the third ‘Zero to Hero’ class. Participants that graduated from this three-month full-time course earned the title Boat Captain, with the entry-level St. Maarten Commercial Captains qualification under their belt. The qualifications earned allow them to seek employment in any aspect of the Maritime field, propelling them into a promising career path.
This ceremony also presented skill certificates to the students of the Maritime Program at NIPA who followed the ‘Zero to Hero’ crew courses and passed their Basic Keelboat and STCW Certifications.
Garth Steyn and Lorraine Talmi, founders of the Kidz At Sea Foundation, gave an encouraging speech to the students and their supporters. Tony Burn and Jon Westmoreland, the main instructors of the courses, choose Davess Mc Lean-Ogle as the best academic student and Alexander Rogers as the best sailor over all. All certificate earners can start working immediately.
The ‘Zero to Hero’ program is funded by the ‘Nationaal Rampenfonds’ in the Netherlands and aims to reduce youth unemployment on St. Maarten by promoting viable trade opportunities.
