Eagle Hall Primary School’s Male/Boys’ Week celebration has been praised by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith.
In a ceremony held recently at the Primary School to launch the week under the theme Strong Boys, Strong Men, Strong Communities, Mr. Griffith stated: “I want to commend the school for this particular initiative. It is not often that you get to speak to the future, and this morning, I’m doing that.”
He called for the replication of such initiatives across the country, recognising the potential impact they can have on young minds and highlighted three projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Youth that align with the objectives of Male/Boys’ Week.
Speaking about the “Protege” Mentorship project, which emphasises the need for national-level mentoring to guide young people towards a positive direction, Mr. Griffith noted that “there’s a need for us to have mentoring at the national level, to steer our young people in a direction that I believe they all should be travelling”.
Another project, “Moving On”, focuses on assisting students in transitioning to secondary school. “We will have training facilitators who will come and speak on topics like money management, anger management, conflict resolution, and leadership,” the Minister pointed out, adding that the aim is to equip students with essential life skills necessary for their future success.
He acknowledged the establishment of a hotline to provide assistance and support to those in need. The 24-hour hotline will be staffed by trained individuals who will offer guidance and advice to parents and young people.
Mr. Griffith also touched on what was important for the students’ personal growth and success, and emphasised the significance of having a relationship with God, stating that “nothing is really possible without Him”.
He encouraged the students to be dreamers and set ambitious goals for themselves, and to believe in their abilities and aspirations.
Speaking about the importance of making a difference in the world and putting people first, he said: “Whatever you choose as a profession, whatever you decide to become, it is important that you put people first, because that is where you will get more satisfaction.”
He advised them to develop “blinkers”, referring to the ability to stay focused on their goals, despite distractions. Mr. Griffith also acknowledged the efforts of the teachers and staff at the school and expressed the hope that the Male/Boys’ Week celebration would serve as a platform to empower students and equip them with the necessary tools for a successful future.