Youth attend three-day workshop

In order to change the society we live in, youths must lead others by setting examples. This was the message given by Reverend Kirk Spencer as he addressed a group of young persons at the second annual St. Vincent and the Grenadines Planned Parenthood Association Youth Health Conference.{{more}}

Delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony, Reverend Kirk Spencer charged the group of youths to lead others by setting positive examples in their lives. If they do this, he said, a great change would occur in the society.

Spencer also implored the youths to break the current trend in society of “too much complaining and too little initiation of what needs to be done… too many fault finders.” He urged youths to think of creative ways to find solutions to many of the society’s problems. He also advised them to increase their knowledge, putting to use all the information learnt in a positive way and to keep God at the centre of their lives, as living without Him would only leave them feeling unfulfilled.

Executive Director of the SVG Planned Parenthood Association Verlene Saunders also urged the youths to make use of all the resources made available to them. Saunders added that the three-day workshop exposes youth to issues affecting them today and how to deal with those issues in a positive way. Saunders also said that twenty-five persons have shown interest in the Youth Advocacy Movement, an organization created by the SVG Planned Parenthood Association and would use the workshop to be trained. The workshop covered topics such as peer pressure, prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination of HIV infected persons, Nutrition, sexual health and career and goal setting.

The three day conference began on Tuesday, July 13, 2009, and wrapped up yesterday at the Anglican Pastoral Centre at Government House Road.