Keetha Lowe - 3rd July 2007

Our youth learn what they live. The are born with the tools of life - talents, esteem, interests, curiosity, dreams, goals, however it is up to our entrusted leaders, you and I to assist in sharpening those tools - to help our youth  discover and develop themselves to full skill.   We must encourage and contribute to the stability of community-based youth development programs as they are essential to the healthy development of young adolescent particularly when designed to help youth build personal resilience. A resilient individual has these attributes: Social competence, Problems-solving skills, Autonomy in terms of a sense of self-identity and an ability to act independently and to exert control over his or her environment, Sense of purpose and of a future

Youth development services provide guidance and support; safe places to live, learn and play; and a variety of opportunities that will contribute to the healthy development of young people.

Youth development programs are designed to meet the human development needs of youth and build a set of core assets and competencies needed to participate successfully in adolescent and adult life.

Youth development and empowerment can occur in our homes, at schools, through youth organizations, government policy-making and community organizing campaigns. Major structural activities where youth empowerment happens throughout society include community decision-making, organizational planning, and education reform.

Educational activities that cite youth empowerment as an aim include student-centered learning , popular education , and service learning . Free learning programs and youth-led media organizations can also provide a foundation to empower youth, as well as community youth development and leadership programs.

Currently, IGM is working with a group of youth entrepreneurs ranging between the ages of 22-27.  We are amazed by their level of insight, intellect, integrated resources, technical and analytical proficiency.   It is believed that such assets, when identified and honed, will in time be a benefit to all.

Currently we are loosing too many of our young Bermudians to the vices of social ills. As a society, we often vent our frustration and disdain, particularly when our youth graduate into the judicial system. The truth is, we may not be able to save all, however, by getting involved we can make a difference.

Enclosing I would like to leave you with John Wesley's inspiring and challenging words:

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can".