Minister of State in the Office of the Attorney General with responsibility for Crime Prevention, Corey Lane, has described the National Peace Program’s (NPP) recently concluded Flip Yah Script Aftercare Programme as a pathway of empowerment for young people.
Mr. Lane praised the 60 young people who participated in the eight-week training session, saying their commitment and enthusiasm to learn were evident. He was speaking at the closing of the programme, at Kingdom International Squarefoot Complex, Lower Estate, St. Michael.
The Minister said: “We are planting seeds in your life to make sure you flip the script. The script that some people are on is a path to destruction….
“We must now water the seeds that you planted and we will fertilise them…. [By completing this programme,] real opportunities, rewards and development are there for you.”
He gave the assurance that even though the training had ended, the journey with the NPP would continue. He said their names would be included in the NPP’s database so there would be long-term follow up with the young people.
In highlighting some next steps, Mr. Lane noted that 10 eligible young people from this programme would travel to Canada from January 20 to 28, 2024, as part of the NPP’s New Horizon Youth Portal.
He also disclosed that some participants had expressed an interest in working on a farm and that initiative would be introduced. He stated: “There are so many programmes that we have done, … we are doing, and…will be done.”
The Minister pointed out that the change agents were tasked with starting adventure clubs across Barbados, as he disclosed that 21 had been established. He explained that the setting up of the groups had allowed children to participate in hiking and crabbing, among other activities.
He said many high-risk and at-risk young people didn’t have anybody to talk to, provide them with necessary guidance, and make them feel cared for and loved.
He thanked all of the persons involved in the programme, including the facilitators; the Crime Prevention Project Unit of the OAG, and the NPP team.
During the training session, participants were exposed to business planning, business etiquette, résumé writing and interviewing techniques, budgeting, and financial planning, among others.
The Flip Yah Script Transformative Experience is one of the many avenues being used to fight crime in Barbados, by changing the way people think.