The Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communications, Department of Social Development and Welfare with the financial support of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean hosted an Adolescent Boys Empowerment Seminar, as part of our My Brother’s Keeper Programme, on the 5 and 7 October 2021, on Grand Turk and Providenciales respectively.
The purpose of the seminar was to inspire, encourage, empower adolescent’s boys some of whom come from broken home and humble upbringing, that there is greatness in them. Additionally, we would like the young men to reflect 5 to 10 years from now and say that someone cared enough to take time out and put on a seminar that helped me.
Juvenile delinquency has increased in the past few years. At risk youth appear to be at the center of criminal activities. School officials confirmed where young men in particular are wreaking havoc on school compound. These delinquent young boys are allegedly involved in gang related activities, using marijuana, fighting and disrespecting authoritative figures. While efforts have been diverted towards addressing juvenile delinquency by school officials and other stakeholders in the past, new developments and statistics suggest that addressing the criminogenic needs of a juvenile coupled with strong social support system is one of the most significant ways to tackling juvenile delinquency.
The theme for the seminar was ” Unleashing the greatest in you.” At risk young adolescent boys are normally ostracized and counted out by association. The trajectory of these boys even graduating from high school is low. Additionally, their environment characterizes and labels them.
Young men aged 12-17 who are at risk and display inappropriate behaviors at home, school and or in their neighborhoods were participants of the seminar. The schools represented included:
· Helena J Robinson High
· Marjorie Basden High
· Long Bay High Louise Thomas High honors
· Clement Howell High
· Maranatha High
· Raymond Gardiner High
· TCIPS Comprehensive High
A total of 74 Young adolescents’ boys attended the session with powerful and influential presenters.
The topic areas discussed were designed to help equip the adolescent boys with the tools necessary to cope and or lead a positive life and ultimately avoid what is attributing to their delinquent behavior through breakout sessions:
· Sex, Health and Wellness
· Goals and Value setting
· Drug use and abuse
· Relax Reflect Release and Restore
· Anger management & Conflict Resolution
The Adolescent boys were well engaged, showed keen interest, by asking and answering questions. They were so enthused that they asked to be called upon to be a part of next year’s session.
The seminar also received support from Digicel with free telephone top up minutes as gift prizes during the session.
Certificates of participation were issued to the young boys along with t shirts and nap sacks.
The seminar was a true success. The Department will be having spin off virtual sessions with 5 and 6 grade boy students at the Primary school level and will address 1 or 2 topics that is applicable based on the challenges experienced, before the end of October.
