Kids Up!

The aim of the program is to deter young men in the Bain and Grant's Town communities from involvement in criminal, violent or otherwise deviant behavior. In response to the need for a proactive, preventative initiative to the at risk population, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Kirk designed (SCUBA) a Super Cool Undersea Bahamian Adventure, now KidsUp! Principals and guidance counselors of the Albury Sayle and Woodcock Primary Schools identified boys who most exhibited signs of uncontrolled anger, aggression, hostility, low self-esteem and poor scholastic performance for the program. KidsUp! is presently a non-profit, non â?" registered community outreach program based out of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Kirk. Legal advisors are in the process of filing the necessary documents for KidsUp! to be registered as a non â?" profit community organization with the Registrar General. The program began in July 2003 with a three-week summer camp but has now expanded to a year-long program primarily focusing on at risk youth particularly males. The program is designed to addresses the emotional, psychological, physical and social needs of its participants. The primary goal of the program is to improve each participant's attitude toward educational training, proper behavior and wholesome recreation. Incidences of change in attitudes and behavior are already evident among the participants. Principals, teachers, parents and caregivers have noted improvements in self-esteem, academic performance, attitude and interpersonal skills. Such changes speak to the success of the program and also to the need for sustained involvement in the lives at our nation's young boys.