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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
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Grand Bahama, Bahamas - The youth of West Grand Bahama have a future that so far seems to be through a new organization called the West Grand Bahama Youth Organization
Leader Mario Mott and Diannia Neat says this group began about three years ago.
“We cater to the children in the community,” explained Neat. “We play sports, we do drama, we do arts and provide mentorship, as we try to get them off the streets and give them a big brother/sister to come to whenever they are facing touch decisions.
“We try to give them camaraderie within their communities.”
She said the group is stationed in West End, but a lot of the children are from Eight Mile Rock.
Mott said their vision was to try to save the at risk kids, noting that he himself lives in the Jones Town area. He said he did not like some of the things that were being said about the young people in his community, so he wanted to make a change and he had spoken with Neat and found out they shared the same vision.
“One day Neat came to the softball field and said this was her dream too, so we teamed up and said we are going to save them.
“When we started we were helping with the kids seven days, every day, then we started to cut down because we were just playing the games with them, and now it was time to teach. So we took on mentoring, looking at their education. If they were facing a problem at home or at school we would give them advice and guide them.”
Throughout this programme Neat and Mott said their eyes have been opened and they too have learned a lot Mott said the programme is going well and he is proud of the children whom he said are progressing.
“In our second year we dominated in a track meet, we were first in every race except one. Then our boys entered the Independence Basketball tournament, 13 year olds playing adults and they dominated as well, came out victorious. Then they won the family island basketball tournament.
“So they have been making us proud. Their grades have been going up. We have a system where if you are failing, you have to answer to us because we are helping. So they are coming along well and their manners are improving as well. We are seeing a change from them.”
Neat said it has been a slow process but the children are coming along.
“We thank the Container Port and wish that other sponsors would come on board to help us,” she added stating, “we congratulate the Container Port for stepping out and trying to assist the youth not only in West Grand Bahama, but we know that they help others as well.”
This past Friday staff members of the Freeport Container Port, Grand Bahama Airport Company and the Freeport Airport Company which formed a group called “Helping People to Help Themselves” presented the members of the West Grand Bahama Youth Association with sporting equipment to help them in their endeavours.
Sherlyn Williams of the Freeport Container Port said that this is just one way that they are reaching out to help the community.
He noted that a number of disciplines were covered in their presentation, which included softball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
Mott thanked the corporate group profusely for their help then noted that recently the corporate group also held a one-day retreat for the young men from their group that they enjoyed tremendously.
“We want to say a big thank you to the Container Port for that” he continued. “I can’t express how much we appreciated it. Again, we really enjoyed it and a week later I asked the young men what they learned and if it made them any better, and they remembered the dining instructions, how to be a proper gentleman, and so it was awesome and I would just like to say thank you again.”
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