Approximately 40 4-H group members and their leaders will tomorrow receive training in crucial life skills when the Barbados 4H Foundation stages a Health Workshop under the theme: ‘Good Grooming, Boys and Girls Social Life and Human Sexuality’.
The workshop will be held at the Fisheries Complex, Princess Alice Highway, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. It is expected to attract group members 10 years and over. “We are targeting both young children and young adults since some young adults do not dress properly, and do not act in the way that they should. Many of them are not well groomed and they follow the North American style with their pants dropping off their bottoms,” said Coordinator Wayne Morris.
Reflecting on the human sexuality aspect, he added: “There is concern about the spread of HIV/AIDS and increased promiscuity. We want to make sure that we can help to guide the youth in terms of how they relate to each other.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St. John, will deliver the keynote address at 9:45 a.m. following opening prayers, pledges and remarks by Mr. Morris and Chairman of the 4-H Foundation, Everton Hunte.
‘Good Grooming’ is the theme for the first session which will be facilitated by Gercine Carter of the Nation Publishing. It is slated to take place at 10:00 a.m.
The second session will be on the topic: ‘‘Human Sexuality, Boys & Girls Social Life’, starting at 11:00 a.m. This session will be conducted by a team of peer counsellors from the Barbados Family Planning Association.
Following the lunch break, participants will learn more about ‘‘Human Sexuality – Prevention and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases” from Patricia Linton, a registered nurse and tutor at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Following the workshop presentations, there will be an evaluation and closing ceremony.
This health workshop is one of a series being planned by the Barbados 4-H Foundation to be held on a monthly basis.