Students At Launch Of Nevis’ Big Brother Programme
Charlestown, Nevis
November 09, 2009
Premier of Nevis and Minister of Education Hon. Joseph Parry urged parents and students of the St. Thomas Primary School to embrace the Big Brothers Programme which would help to shape the students into productive members of society.
Mr. Parry gave the advice as he endorsed the mentoring plan during the launch of the Big Brothers Programme, an initiative of the Department of Social Development on Thursday.
“You need to be willing to work at things, you need to be willing to do things, you need to be willing to make sacrifices.
“The business of mentoring is to have someone you can turn to in your hour of need”¦I wantt you to understand they will be listening, they will be guiding, they will be advising, they will be helping,” he said to the students.
The Premier explained that the Programme was an effort to save the children of Nevis.
“We want to put an end to these young men who wear their pants down and these young men who encourage people to use drugs and these young men who talk about drugs they must not be important. It should be the good fellas who should be important.
“You have to start now and so these mentors will help you to look good and will look away from those bad eggs that are in our society,” he said.
Mr. Parry also advised the students to admire what was good, practice and do what was good, attend church and Sunday School, view church services on television and listen to the Ministers of Religion.
He asked them to ignore some of the programmes on television, do their homework, work hard and help their parents all of which would help them to become good people who would help build a good society.
Meantime, Principal of the School Ms. Norleen Smithen lauded the 20 mentors who volunteered their time to advice, support and guide the 20 male students who were slated to participate in the project.
She told them their gesture would make a difference in the lives of the youths and it was one way they gave back to the community.
“We have to endeavour at a very early age to reach our boys rather than later and not when it is too late. Gang violence and criminal activities are on the increase in our beautiful country.
“We point fingers and ask who is to blame? We blame the home, school, church, community the television. Well, it is time to take a stand. The Big Brothers Programme is an attempt to forge a relationship with the community against the ills of society,” she said.
The Principal explained that the aim of the programme was to inculcate values in the boys of respect for others and themselves, honesty, love and integrity. It would also serve to develop high levels of self esteem in the students and develop positive attitudes towards school in general.
“We believe the mentors have been selected as good role models and they will inspire our boys to do great things, therefore, change any deviant behaviour that may or may not be emerging,” she said.