Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 08, 2019 (SKNIS): Approximately 183 individuals from St.Kitts and Nevis were urged to emulate local personalities who play positive roles in their lives, as well as to volunteer more whenever and wherever necessary.
The point was made by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, William V. Hodge, during the Orientation and Training Session for the 2019 Volunteer Corp on Friday, February 8, 2019.
The volunteer corps is an initiative that was implemented in February 2018 by the Department of Youth Empowerment in St. Kitts. The programme facilitates youth access to opportunities to play an integral role in community development
“You the young persons have to begin to admire and to emulate those leaders who are in your lives, at schools, in community groups, and at churches, because you have to come up to take the reins and the responsibilities that we the older folks hold at the moment,” he said.
Mr. Hodge touched briefly on volunteerism and noted that “service learning volunteering is something that helps to shape who you become.”
“Whatever you choose to do in the area of volunteerism, I would ask that you include going to some of our schools to volunteer your time, to work with a child or two or three children because there are students who are struggling and need the assistance,” the permanent secretary added.
Kerdis Clarke, Acting Director of Youth in Nevis, endorsed the volunteer corps initiative and noted that volunteerism has been at the epicentre of related operations on the sister isle.
She encouraged all volunteers, especially those from Nevis to play their part in making a difference, as well as finding the time to lend a helping hand.
“I must assure you students who are going to be responsible for committing to this volunteer corps that we will be monitoring and supervising you. We think that it is necessary for you to give back,” she said. “We do recognize the need to augment interest in volunteerism and patriotism, so I do encourage all students to get excited about volunteerism as there are benefits to be gleaned.”
