Youth skills aim to curb crime, uplift communities

A transformative initiative by the National Peace Programme (NPP) is reshaping the futures of young people by promoting harmony, justice and social transformation with a focus on crime prevention and supporting at-risk youth, according to Corey Lane, the Office of the Attorney General’s minister for crime prevention.

The programmes provide skills training and opportunities that help build self-confidence and self-worth, he said.

“When these young people are here learning a skill, it gives them self-confidence and self-worth. It gives them a positive place to be and a positive person to be,” Lane said. “Positively, it provides them with skills…they can become bartenders, open their own bar, or have a skill that can bring in money. It can give them a job, a career, employment, or even a small business. Ultimately, combining these factors results in a peaceful and safe society.”

The response has been “overwhelming” with the programmes now “a household name”, he said, despite some scepticism. “Every programme we’ve launched has been oversubscribed, indicating a hunger and thirst for change and positivity among Barbadians.”

One component called Elevate the Peace aims to address root causes of violence through workshops on conflict resolution, anger management, peaceful communication and counselling services.

Shaquon Mason, facilitator for a barbering programme, said teaching has been an extremely positive experience. “It makes me feel elated. It makes me feel like I could be more than just a standard barber. I could go international with this.”

Mason said some participants did not even know how to hold clippers initially. “I know how to hold a machine, but when I came, I got to understand that everyone doesn’t know how to hold a machine. So it was very interesting, exciting.”

He wants to change negative perceptions about young people. “I find that the older folks are very close-minded. They’re not open-minded to diverse events and diverse creativity. And that’s what the young people bring.”

Lane acknowledged changing public opinion would be “a mammoth task” but said: “I adopted a slogan long ago called ‘more action, less talk.’ And I believe that the action will speak for itself in time.”

Timothy McLean, project manager, said 15 pop-up programmes would soon launch across Barbados parishes with aims to offer job placements. “Out of this programme and all the programs that we are hosting, we will select persons and offer them opportunities and placements at places of work.”

prison rehabilitation, praised the early intervention approach. “This program offers us an opportunity now for persons that are at risk of being involved in crime.”

Participant Lumiere Clarke, 16, said: “It keeps me out of trouble…It keeps my mind positive…I got plans…I want to be a top barber.”

Jayden Jackman, 19, added: “I find something that I actually love and…I can see it taking me far. Far. Overseas, I would say. I would like it to go overseas. I can see myself making more money overseas.”

Minister Lane said the NPP was providing a supportive community and sense of purpose, asking: “What are we to do with them? Should we do rehabilitation? Should we try to put them on the right path? Or should we just leave them?”