The opportunity
Simon Bluteau and Rex Pollard have drafted a proposal to offer fitness training, mentorship, and gym access to 22 youth for a period of eight months. These would be young people from across the island with a broad range of fitness experience. The intention is to excite young people, and promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The program would include
- Monthly assessments and an updated training program for all students every 4-6 weeks
- Fully supervised personal training
- An individual review of every participant’s diet and ways to improve their own health journey
- Water/refreshments provided at every session
The benefits
We partnered with Simon and Rex last summer on a series of youth camps, and that experience really proved the model. I think Simon is a fantastic role model. He’s Quebecois, grew up in Montreal, now permanently in SVG. He works with Rex who co owns the gym, and who is also a brilliant role model for youth. As with the summer camps, the programs they run are popular, fun, and substantive.
The culture of the gym is very positive as well, and serves both locals and internationals. For the youth, I feel just spending time in the gym is a great thing. Again, a very positive culture and great mentorship. I suspect the participants will spend lots of time there, even outside their workouts and sessions.
The period of 8 months is a good long time, one in which the participants could really become a part of the gym, make lots of positive relationships, and also begin to see the results of their time there. For those who are actively engaged in sport, they'll see their skills improve. For those who are new to fitness, they'll begin to see all those positive changes in how they feel, which will encourage them to continue.
The benefits of being active are well known. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as type 2 diabetes. It can address symptoms of anxiety and depression, including through working together with others who want to see them succeed.
Next Steps
For all those reasons and more, we'd like to work ahead and make this program a reality. As one of members of the board mentioned on reviewing Simon's proposal, this program has the capacity to be a game changer. There are no other programs available quite like it, at least to our knowledge, on Bequia. The rate that Simon has offered is one that reflects his dedication to helping young people; to sponsor all 22 participants, the rate per month is $3000XCD or $1500CDN. Which is competitive to say the least.
I've been excited by what this can mean, and have secured pledges for four months of support so far. We'd like to find others who are able to help fund the remaining months. Any pledge level is a help.
Ultimately, this is one of those things that are available to youth in Canada and the US, though less so to those in the Grenadines. This is a unique opportunity to provide lasting benefit, and it's not an exaggeration to say that it has the capacity to change lives. We know that from the work that Simon and Rex have already done.
We can do this!
Best,
