Mentorship programme launched to help at-risk St Philip youth

By Anesta Henry

Red Foundation Inc. has launched a Community High Achievers Mentoring Programme (CHAMP) designed to contribute to the advancement of struggling and at-risk young people who live in St Philip.

Managing Director of SMC Consultants and Consultant to the CHAMP project, Shawn Clarke, said the programme, targeting children between the ages of seven and 18, will operate as a community-based out-of-school programme.

Speaking during a press conference to launch the project at Accra Beach on Wednesday, Clarke said CHAMP will achieve its objectives by aiding mentees in academic, emotional and social adjustments to school and home life and pairing students at the primary, secondary and community levels with worthy and respected community members.

He said the programme, which is being supported by the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, has three components – one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring, and community counselling clinics.

Clarke added that weekly sessions will occur at a location in St Philip on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

He explained that one-on-one mentoring would provide young people with a mentor to help them build strong relationships and set and maintain life goals.

Clarke added that qualifying mentors must be 21 years or older and must have a love for children.

“Each mentor will receive one week of intensive training conducted by personnel from SMC Consultants who are qualified in mentorship training. Each mentor must commit eight hours monthly to meet with his or her mentee for this component,” he said.

Clarke added that the group mentoring component will comprise groups of mentees sitting with one mentor for academic studies, lessons, homework clubs and sporting activities.

He said the community counselling clinics will allow young people and their parents who need counselling intervention to sit with a psychologist or counsellor for one hour on Saturday mornings.

“It is envisaged that the mentor and mentee relationship will be for two years. It is, however, up to the mentor and mentee to decide if they want to continue the relationship unofficially. The relationship must be built on trust and the organisers’ knowledge that the mentors have the child’s best interest at heart.

“Each person seeking participation in CHAMP as a mentor must submit an application expressing interest. The application must provide the names of four references. In addition, the applicant must provide a valid Police Certificate of Character and a short 500-word essay stating why they should be accepted as a mentor and what qualities and skills they will bring to the programme,” Clarke explained.

He said people living in St Philip or who originated in that parish and want to make a contribution to CHAMP can attend a town hall meeting on Saturday, September 30, at 5 p.m. at Hilda Skeene Primary School.

According to Clarke, the project is a costly undertaking and is in need of financial and other assistance. Patron of the Red Foundation The Most Honourable Stedson Red Plastic Bag Wiltshire, who said he was excited about CHAMP, said a mentorship programme was envisioned as far back as when the foundation was launched in 2017.

“We discussed mentorship as something we wanted to be a major pillar for the foundation. I am happy and excited that today we have reached this stage. I look forward to this programme working within the communities in St Philip,” he said.

Manager of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust Donna Clarke said the Trust was pleased to fund the three key components of the project.

“For us, the key results coming out of this programme is that 60 young persons who will be selected at the end of this programme will come out better trained in social skills and management, in terms of their development, and at the end of it they will also have a better understanding of life,” she said.

“We often hear our children have issues, they are depressed, they are angry. We have names such as deviant, and we want to get away from that stigma and focus more on the positives for our young people. So, the Maria Holder Memorial Trust felt that this was a very important initiative, and we would like to wish the Red Foundation the very best.”

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb