Humphrey urges young men to take lead to help develop country

Ivor Lower, one of the post Improved students in the programme:[/caption] The ten-week programme, which ran from March to mid-May, saw a total of 64 young men taking part. Founder and President of the MENS organisation Fabian Sargeant said he has seen a growing need for the services of the organisation, as he pleaded with Humphrey to help them get a permanent home. “We have been receiving a lot of phone calls and interests from schools and parents across Barbados to do some work with their boys,” said Sargeant. “Going forward we want to create an environment where these boys can come every day. We want a full-time office … Ultimately, we would like to have an office where they can come and create that safe space where you can come and breeze and get correct information and you will know there is a group that can help you in your development,” he said. “We can only do that with resources. There is a need. Minister there is a need for this,” he said in a direct plea to the Minister of People Empowerment. Noting that many of the young men with whom he has come into contact learn from taking part in various activities instead of sitting down and writing, Sargeant urged parents to reconsider their parenting style in some cases to help their children in their development. “You need to understand that the way you would have parented these boys when they were six and eight  [years old] that style of parenting cannot happen when they are 13, 14 and 15 [years old],” said Sargeant, who noted that he welcomed news of an educational reform. He said too often people were quick to label some boys as “delinquent, troublesome and heard-ears”, but failed to realise their brilliance and potential because they were not given the chance to show it. “These young men need empowerment,” said Sargeant, who urged parents not to give up on their children who they deemed as troublesome. He also urged young people to grab hold of various developmental and educational opportunities. “I give you my commitment that I will support this programme again next year and later on this year with little more funds so that you can do the things I think you need to do,” Humphrey said. During the graduation ceremony, which was dotted with entertainment, the students were presented with their certificate of completion and some of them specially awarded for a dramatic improvement in behaviour. (MM)]]>