Nevis Youth Dept. Officer – Shoya Lawrence
Charlestown, Nevis
March 25, 2014
The Department of Youth and Sports in the Ministry of Social Development is inviting youth organizations to participate in the observance of Global Youth Service Day scheduled for April 11-13, 2014, the time set aside to promote community service among young people.
Celebrated under the theme “Youth Changing the World,” Global Youth Service Day is dedicated to the youth and encourages young people to work together with other social groups to address community issues as well as contribute to their communities through volunteerism.
During a recent episode of Nevis Television’s “The Social Development Outlook,” Shoya Lawrence, Youth Officer at the Department of Youth and Sports, explained why the department is encouraging youth and community organizations on Nevis to get involved.
“It is important because of the fact that too often we have a lot of youth who see service as something not significant”¦It is something that we are trying to bring to the forefront which is volunteerism. It’s in the form of volunteerism where we get youth to see the benefit of not always wanting to do things to get back something in return.
“The Youth Service Day is going to be spread over a weekend period so we have April 11th to 13th and we’re not asking for the groups to do all three days. It’s not limited to a specific time. What we are are saying is that you let us know what your activity is and we will try our best to highlight it…We are not asking any group to step outside of their zone”¦You do something within your district,” she said.
Meantime, Lawrence stated that to mark the 2014 observance of Global Youth Service Day, the Department is also planning a beautification project for the Elquemedo T. Willett Park.
“What we are looking to do is to give the park a facelift,” she said, as she extended an invitation to local businesses to promote their establishment through this beautification project. She explained that the images of local sporting icons will be showcased on the walls as well.
“I am appealing to those established businesses in the community”¦ If you want us to save a spot for you, we can save it,” she said.
Meantime, Vera Herbert, Senior Sports Officer at the Department of Youth, also made an appeal for youth and community organizations to plan a volunteer activity and encouraged interested individuals or groups to contact the Department of Youth and Sports at or their respective Community Development Officers (CDOs) to register their plans for a project.
“I would like to encourage the groups to think about their project ideas. Look at the specific areas that you would like to target. Let’s say you want to do something in health, something in education, something to do with the environment, community involvement or hunger. You can organize a food drive for a group of your choice. You can do it for a school or specific person in your community, and you can deliver meals to those in need.”
The observance of Global Youth Service Day will form part of the activities organized by Nevis’ Department of Youth and Sports for its celebration of Youth Month during April.