GHS Young Leaders 2018 host Domestic Violence seminar

The GHS RBTT Young Leaders 2018 continue on their mission to make a change in the community by tackling their first major project, “Educate to Elevate: Domestic Violence.” The seminar was held on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the Girls’ High School compound, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There was a total of 26 participants, including five guest speakers.

This project was created to raise awareness among teenagers from different schools, on the topic of domestic abuse and effective ways of resolving disputes. With the aid of the guest speakers, including Senator Zita Barnwell, Jelani Williams and Frederick Stephenson, Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and Youth, the meaning and consequences of domestic abuse were discussed, as both the Young Leaders and the teen audience absorbed the importance of the information given.

The teenagers were also able to see real-life consequences of being a domestic abuser, as there were two prisoners, one male and one female, who were brought from Her Majesty’s Prisons to present at the seminar, as well. These prisoners both gave a presentation on what domestic violence means and testimonies about their experience with domestic violence and how they were affected, resulting in their incarceration.

The GHS RBTT Young Leaders’ work continued on Sunday, March 18, as they began their “Angels of Change” project. The aim of this project is to change/improve the lives of the nine children living at the Salvation Army’s Children Home in Pembroke, who have either been abandoned, or neglected, or have no family to take care of them. The girls spent the afternoon playing games, reading and baking goodies with the young children. The Young Leaders are planning another social event to spend time with the children.

These children are well taken care of by their house mother Nova Haywood of Buccament, but she explained that it is sometimes difficult to do so, because of the lack of finances and other necessities needed to look after them. The Young Leaders hope to improve their current situation by enlisting the help of Vincentians across the country and have created the “Angels of Change Fund”, which requires persons to make a commitment to donate at least $20 monthly, for as long as they wish, to provide the children, aged 3-12, with funds for school expenses, medical expenses, transportation and a monthly social outing. Commitment forms can be collected from the Girls’ High School and all monies will go to the home. The Young Leaders encourage their fellow Vincentians to be ‘angels of change’; let us work together to create positive, effective and long-lasting change in our communities.