Elder men encouraged to mentor boys

Elder men are being called on to volunteer as mentors for young boys under a new government initiative aimed at strengthening intergenerational relationships and providing positive role models for the next generation.

The appeal came from Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde during the recent launch of the Granddaddy Intergenerational Mentorship Project and Pillars of Barbados: Voices of Our Elders.

The mentorship programme is intended to connect boys with elder men in their communities who can offer guidance, share life experiences and help shape positive values.

Forde said a number of men had already expressed interest in the initiative and stakeholder consultations are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde (Photo by: Lauryn Escamilla)

“We are asking for more men who are of retirement age. It could be persons who are still working to give of their time and effort selflessly. It is an altruistic call. It is a call for volunteerism,” he said.

“Those men who have the discipline, the hard work, the selflessness, those things that can impact positively on our young persons so that they can put down those tools of misadventure,” he said.

Special Advisor to the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde said the initiative was developed in response to concerns about boys growing up without consistent male guidance.

Special Advisor to Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde (Photo by: Lauryn Escamilla)

“There are too many households in Barbados where there are no men that would be leaders or persons who could guide single women with eight and nine children. Some of them might only have one or two, but the only male that might be in the household might be the son,” she said.

The programme will begin as a pilot before being expanded, with organisers hoping to have it operating islandwide by the end of next year.

Mentors are expected to come from a range of backgrounds, including former police officers, teachers, tradesmen, bus drivers and barbers.

Support is also being sought from organisations such as the Boy Scouts, Cadet Corps, faith-based groups, parent-teacher associations and community organisations.

Cynthia Forde said one of her concerns was the number of young men appearing before the courts and entering prison at an early age.

“I am tired of seeing our boys 17 years, 15 years, 20 years going to prison,” she said.

The initiative will also encourage elder men to pass on traditional skills and cultural practices, including kite-making, storytelling and toy-making.

The second initiative, Pillars of Barbados: Voices of Our Elders, will focus on preserving the stories, experiences and contributions of senior citizens.

Dr Jacqueline Wiltshire said the project would involve younger people interviewing older Barbadians and documenting their experiences to ensure they are preserved for future generations.

Consultant in Elder Affairs Jacqueline Wiltshire (Photo by: Lauryn Escamilla)

“Barbados as an ageing society, we have more and more centenarians, and when they die, they carry their stories away along with them,” she said.

The initiative will also provide younger Barbadians with an opportunity to learn about the country’s development and the contributions of older generations.

“There’s a saying that wisdom grows with age, but its greatest value is when it is shared with others,” Wiltshire said.

(LE)