A new training initiative of the Barbados Olympic Association for young boys is being hailed by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith as an exciting opportunity for them to possibly win at life.
The programme, which is sponsored by the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, was opened to 25 boys between ages 13 to 14. The programme carries the slogan “TAG You’re It” (Together And Growing You’re In Transition).
During the opening ceremony on Saturday Griffith said, “One of the things that I like about the programme is that it is building the capacity for you to function in life at a totally different level.”
“I believe that this particular initiative should be weaved into training because to me it makes no sense to be engaged in a training programme and forget the life skills and the social development of those who are participating in sports.”
Griffith urged the 25 young men to use the knowledge gained to become pillars of hope for other young men around them.
“I want to encourage … you to use the knowledge gained during those 13 weeks to become a satellite of this particular programme to ensure that you can share the knowledge that you gained, to share with your friends.”
He also called on the trainees to become dreamers for the sake of facilitating change amongst the youth in society.
“I want to encourage you to become dreamers because if we as a government and if we as a people do not encourage you to become dreamers then I think we are making a mistake. This programme would allow you to dream, this programme would allow you to see where you can go … ”
Secretary General of the Barbados Olympic Association Erskine Simmons, during his address, said that though the launch of the project was delayed because of COVID-19, it was important to recognise the genius of the Commonwealth Games Foundation in conceptualizing the Game Changers Initiative. Simmons promised the programme will see to it that the lives of the youth chosen from five different secondary schools will be developed.
“We are delighted that the project was started today and will use sport as an innovation with the [boys selected] with a goal to help develop life skills to function in this extremely complicated and stressful world.” (MR)
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