Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2015 (SKNIS): Children and youth of the Camps and Shadwell areas have been taught some positive values thanks to a collaborative effort undertaken by the Young Adults International of the Wesleyan Holiness Church and the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
The initiative dubbed “Project Save Our Youth (SOY)” involved conducting homework sessions, self-defense and life skills sessions as well as mentoring.
SOY Project Coordinator, Terry Morris, informed that the undertaking was funded by the European Union through the Ministry of Sustainable Development, while the sessions were organized by the Young Adults International.
“The homework sessions were held twice weekly in the subjects of Math, Science and Reading,” he said. “Mondays and Wednesdays, the clinics were held at Camps and Tuesdays and Thursdays, the clinics were in Shadwell. We catered to children from the primary level up to the tertiary level.”
Mr. Morris revealed that there were 28 attendees in Camps and 37 in the Shadwell area.
There were self-defense sessions in taekwondo conducted on Fridays by Lincoln and Lyndon David, while nutrition classes, job skills training, life skills sessions and sessions on community consciousness and volunteerism were also carried out.
At a closing ceremony held October 25, featured speaker Raeme Gumbs, a 31 year old former prison inmate, delivered a motivational speech encouraging both young and old to avoid crime and violence and instead seek healthy alternatives. He implored youth in particular to be mindful of warnings and good advice from parents, church leaders and caring adults in the community.
The footballers of Shadwell were presented with footballs, shin guards and bibs, during the ceremony. Mr. Morris stated that the expectation is that the relationship between the footballers and the Young Adults will continue.
Rev. Sylvester Herbert of the Wesleyan Holiness Church thanked volunteers, parents, partners and all involved in Project SOY. He also underscored the need for the initiative to continue with the Ministry of Sustainable Development even in the absence of further funding. He noted that the symbolic conclusion of the project was due only to the outlined time stipulations of the funding agency but the components of the project, such as the homework help, parenting education and mentoring were critical enough to be continued.