Just over 170 students were honoured by the Governor General Youth Award on Tuesday, May 29. Pictured here are the Silver recipients with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson; former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest and Director of Youth, Daron Turnquest.
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Nassau, Bahamas - In
his first official address to participants of the Governor General's
Youth Award, new Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel
Johnson congratulated the youths receiving Bronze and Silver and urged
them to "keep their eyes on the prize," remaining focused on their path
of excellence.
"I am excited by the
opportunity to be in the company of such outstanding and motivated young
people and to be a part of this ceremony where you, the participants of
this programme, are awarded for your remarkable endurance in earning
the Bronze or Silver medal," said Dr Johnson in his remarks delivered
Tuesday, May 29, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Honourees
came from 13 high schools across the island. A total of 144
participants received Bronze Awards and 28 obtained Silver. St
Augustine's College had the largest group of Award recipients totaling
51 Bronze. Government High had the highest number of Silver Award
recipients for the evening with a total of eight students being
honoured.
To be eligible for Silver, Bronze
holders must engage in a physical activity, take up a skill and become
involved in community service for six months. Participants must also
successfully complete an adventurous journey spending three-days and
two-nights, hiking some 30 miles.
The Bronze
Awards demands three months in each component (physical recreation,
skill and service), in addition to a two-day, one-night hike covering a
minimum of 15 miles. Bronze participants get to decide what area they
wish to spend an additional three months, whether it's in physical
recreation, skill, or providing a community service.
A
deep sense of national responsibility and knowing the value of hard
work are just two of the life lessons GGYA participants learn. In his
address, Dr Johnson listed others.
"The
lessons you have learnt are invaluable because they are life lessons
about responsibility, community, self-confidence and even friendship,"
he told the youths.
The self-development
program caters to young persons aged 14 to 25. The government currently
partners with the GGYA through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and
Culture's G.O.L.D. Initiative. G.O.L.D. is an acronym for Greatness,
Opportunity, Leadership and Development. The ministry seeks to instill
greatness and provide opportunities to promote leadership and foster the
development of the nation's youth.
The
G.O.L.D. initiative provides the financial support necessary to make the
GGYA programme more national in scope. During the first year of that
partnership the GGYA recorded 1,935 registered participants, the highest
level of participation in its history. The programme now operates 53
units across The Bahamas
On Tuesday night, newly medalled participants provided positive feedback on the programme.
"It was a real learning process for me," said Dante Barry, a Bronze Award recipient from C.R. Walker High School.
Another
Bronze recipient, Janell McKenzie of Temple Christian, expressed plans
to continue on to the next level. As rigorous as the programme proved to
be McKenzie pulled through and was "extremely proud" of her
perseverance.
Meantime, Kingsway Academy's
Kirkwood Deal called his journey to Silver a "truly remarkable"
experience. "I've done so many things I never thought I could do," he
said. "It puts a smile on my face."
Already
Silver recipient, C.V. Bethel Head Girl, Jannelle Wilson is plotting her
course to the Gold Award. Her next hiking expedition is set for this
summer.
"A benefit of the programme is
obtaining life saving skills, another, is the social element, being able
to meet new people," she said.
Alongside
family members, friends and well-wishers, former Governer General Sir
Orville Turnquest and Daron Turnquest, Director of Youth attended the
event.
This year marks the GGYA's 25th anniversary in The Bahamas.
How the schools stack up:
C.C. Sweeting--8 Bronze
C.R. Waker--22 Bronze
C.V. Bethel--12 Bronze, 4 Silver
Government High--17 Bronze, 8 Silver
Kingsway Academy--3 Bronze, 3 Silver
Lyford Cay--5 Bronze, 3 Silver
Nassau Christian Academy--8 Bronze, 3 Silver
Queen's College--1 Bronze
St Andrew's-- 4 Bronze
St Anne's--1 Bronze
St Augustine's College--51 Bronze
St John's-- 2 Bronze
Temple Christian--10 Bronze, 6 Silver