President launches national youth mentorship drive during Graydon Sealy school visit  

President The Right Honourable Jeffrey Bostic on Wednesday unveiled a major new mentorship initiative aimed at empowering young people from disadvantaged communities, declaring that the success of his presidency will be defined by the opportunities it creates for the nation’s youth.

Speaking during a visit to the Graydon Sealy Secondary School, President Bostic told students that background and circumstance should never be barriers to achievement, stressing that his own journey had convinced him that national leadership carries a responsibility to inspire and uplift the next generation.  

“One of the things, one of the legacies of my presidency, must be the impact that that presidency has on the young people in this country,” he said. “Especially those of you who may have come from communities that we would call socially or economically challenged communities; your circumstances must not stop you from achieving your goals.”  

President Bostic, who assumed office on November 30 during Independence celebrations, had already visited several primary schools, but Wednesday’s engagement marked his first stop at a secondary institution. He was greeted with cultural performances by students, which earned a standing ovation from the President, who thanked students and teachers for what he described as “inspiring and enjoyable performances”.  

His visit formed part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The school opened on 27 September 1975.  

At the heart of his address was the formal introduction of the Chapman Challenge, a national initiative designed to support young people from disadvantaged beginnings and guide them towards the highest levels of personal and professional development.  

He told students the initiative was named in honour of Chapman Lane, the community in which he was raised, and said it was intended to demonstrate that meaningful national progress must include those who often feel overlooked. The Challenge, he said, would be open to participants from age 12 and would take several forms, with schools playing a central role in identifying and supporting students over time.  

Among the most immediate opportunities linked to the programme are scholarships to the King’s Academy of the Kingdom of Jordan, following discussions with King Abdullah II during the President’s installation last year. Bostic said a number of scholarships would be offered to students participating in the Chapman Challenge who meet academic requirements and come from low-income households.  

“His specific words to me were as follows: those persons who meet the academic requirements must have one other thing about them. They must come from families and households that are low income,” he said.  

President Bostic also signalled that the initiative would extend to vulnerable groups beyond the school system, including incarcerated individuals, with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration. He said discussions would be held with the Barbados Prison Service to explore how mentorship and structured support could help inmates “fit back into this society as honest, proud citizens of Barbados”.  

A national mentorship framework is also planned, drawing on churches, faith-based groups, sporting organisations and national institutions, with sport identified as a powerful tool for guidance and personal development.  

President Bostic said icons from various sporting disciplines would play a critical role in shaping attitudes and discipline among young people.  

The visit ended with an interactive session, during which the President answered questions from students on leadership, sport, career paths and the role of Head of State.