174 Youth to benefit from five-year development programme

The Supreme Counselling for Personal Development has welcomed some 174 new “Supreme Beings” into its ranks.

The organisation did so during a welcome ceremony held for the students and their parents and/or guardians at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needham’s Point, St. Michael on Sunday evening. It was an exciting affair as Chief Executive Officer, Shawn Clarke, celebrated his new “children”, as he referred to them, for embarking on the journey and saluted their parents for appreciating the importance of such a programme and committing to it.

Sharing information and expectations for the five years that the children will be a part of the cohort, Clarke told the youngsters, who pledged to be loving, caring, obedient, and intelligent, that they are not “Supreme Beings” because of any behavioural or low-esteem issues, but because they are special. While vowing to give them every opportunity to shine, Clarke reminded the pre-teens that success begins and ends with them.

“The change must start with you. The willingness to be an even better person – it must start with you. Walking away – it must start with you. Wanting to succeed and to make something of yourselves, must start with you. If it is to be, it must start with me. You are the captain of your ship, you are in control of your destiny, we will help you to get there, but you got a lot of work to put in as well,” he encouraged.

Some of the youngsters in the personal development initiative.

The parents and guardians were not left out as Clarke also reminded them of their role in the prosperity of the children and wards in the new partnership and in life in general. He said that though the children may not always get it right, he believed that consistency in the programme and constant communication are keys to mitigating any possible challenges.

“This is a partnership. We have to work together. We will make this happen. Anytime they do something that is good – let us know. Catch them in the act of doing something good, we want to know as well. Every term that they receive their reports I want a copy … because I want to know how you are doing. If you are not doing as you should be doing, then you going join me on Saturdays for lessons,” Clarke added to rousing applause from the parents.

Dennis Browne, Principal of one of the participating schools, St. George Secondary, dubbed himself an honorary ‘Supreme Being’ and he had encouraging words for the youngsters. He advised them to stay away from any kryptonite that will appear in the form of peer pressure and negative people who may want to deter them from achieving their dreams. Browne encouraged them to recount the wise words of their parents and teachings they are expected to learn in the Supreme programme and this will help them to overcome any trying times. (KC)