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The Bahamas Institute for Youth Leadership Development will introduce a group of the island’s young students to how businesses of The Bahamas – small and large – make the local economy tick.

For the third consecutive year, the Institute – headed by former cabinet minister Zhivargo Laing and his wife Zsa Zsa – will take Grade 12 students from almost every high school on Grand Bahama on a New Providence Corporate Tour from February 22 to 25.

To date, more than 150 high school seniors from Grand Bahama have participated in the programme which has grown in popularity each year.

“The response from parents, educators and students has been excellent throughout the years,” the Laings noted in a press statement.

“We express gratitude to the sponsors that made their trip possible and thank them for contributing to the development of the next generation of leaders in our nation,” they continued.

In September 2012, Zhivargo and Zsa Zsa Laing converted the Marco City Youth Leadership Institute into the The Bahamas Institute for Youth leadership Development, to continue providing leadership training for high school seniors.

“We believe that if school leavers enhance their leadership skills, then their transitioning to the world of adulthood would be more effective, they would be more ready to work or do business in our economy, and they would make a more positive contribution to the broader Bahamian society,” said Zhivargo Laing, a specialist in youth development issues among his many talents.

Developing the leadership skills of young people takes place through monthly seminars over 10 months in which the Institute focuses on goal setting, planning, communication, problem solving, teamwork, emotional intelligence, financial management, entrepreneurship, attitude and ethics, and career development.

Zsa Zsa Laing, the program’s director, ascribes much of the Institute’s success to the strong buy-in from local business leaders: “Hearing from, and interacting with, positive professionals throughout the country, particularly those in leadership positions, has been very important.”

Exposing the students to different business styles was also a key factor and the Laings insist on “taking our young people on corporate tours of Grand Bahama, New Providence and Atlanta, Georgia.”

The couple will accompany the students to New Providence on the practical exercise this week.