Barbados
Team programme delivered in Barbados
Akeme grew up in Fairy Valley in the south of Barbados. His mum and dad both work in farming, his mum with horticulture and his dad with animals such as horses, sheep and goats.
When Akeme got to secondary school age he started hanging out with a new group of friends and he began to dislike school. Instead of going to school and focusing on his exams, Akeme started to skip class and meet up with his friends. The group would spend their time hanging out with gangs on the island.
In 2016 a friend of his heard about the launch of PTI’s TEAM programme in Barbados and recommended it to Akeme. He saw it as an opportunity get involved in something new on the island.
Mr Jemmot and the other TEAM leaders gave him the confidence to believe in himself. He finally started to see that he had potential. After completing the TEAM programme, Akeme started to look for better opportunities for himself.
Following his work placement, Akeme was offered a full-time job at the Blue Horizon hotel, and although it wasn’t his dream career, he saw this as an opportunity to learn. Working at Blue Horizon has taught him to be diligilant and hardworking.
Akeme dreams of being an entrepreneur, and as well as working at a restaurant in Oistins, he has set up his own hot sauce and catering company “Paradise Eats”.
In March 2020, Akeme travelled to London to receive the Prince’s Trust Global Award from HRH The Prince of Wales and attend a dinner at Buckingham Palace for his achievements.
Akeme has since enrolled in Prince’s Trust International’s Enterprise Programme to further his business skills and to realise his dream of being an entrepreneur.