Brother's Keeper
A tribute to Bay Gardens Resorts
To be ones “brother’s keeper” is a dominating principle found across many philosophies and worldviews. Lending a helping hand to help elevate those around us can go a long way in ensuring that everyone gets a seat at the table and ultimately achieves their highest potential. This is especially true when the recipient of the aid can be considered vulnerable.
Over recent years, one of the groups that has been in desperate need of attention is adolescent boys. The stigma attached to young black males worldwide has been predominantly negative. Often a forgotten segment of our society, they may tend to falter by the wayside and not have anyone that they can look up to, no model to fashion their lives after. This, for many will mean that they may turn to the wrong crowds for knowledge. One of the major ways this issue can be combated is by involving upstanding members of society in the development of young minds and lives. This was the rationale behind the Big Brother initiative taken acceptance and up by SLHTA Event Coordinator, Mr Wendell George as of January 2019.
The program is held in collaboration with the Grand Rivere Secondary School. It seeks to provide professional mentorship for the young men of the institution to aid them in realizing their highest potentials. Pairing students up with a “big brother” in the field that they may want to branch out into has been proven to be a great way for them to learn through observation. It also presents a physical representation of their goals and dreams. As of this year, the program has also gained sponsorship from one of the island’s most notable establishments, i.e. Bay Garden’s Resorts. Not only has the company provided financial aid to support the cause, but it has also opened its doors to provide internship opportunities to help those who are impacted by the program to further develop their skills. Furthermore, this year, one of the pupils was granted a scholarship, through the program and has been gifted the opportunity to further his education at one of the tertiary institutions on island. This has lightened the financial burden on his family and put him a position to excel.
It is clear to see that this initiative is impacting lives. All the parties involved should be commended for their efforts. Let’s continue to uplift our young boys. They are the future of this great nation.
