21 Young Men Graduate from Mirrors Program
Twenty one young men between the ages of 18-21 successfully completed the third phase of the Mirrors Programme on Sat March 20. The Ceremony was held at the Willowbank Resort and special awards were given to three young men who stood out in the group over the nine month period:
- Cory Curtis – The Leadership Award
- Cardell Carter – The Choice Award
- Ivan Greene – The Possibility Award.
The programme involved the young men pairing with a volunteer from the community who coached them weekly on goals such as obtaining employment and improving employability skills, completing their GED, making better choices, handling their anger and improving their communication skills.
Mirrors participants are invited to do the following; consider what it means to be committed; create a new appreciation for being responsible; discover their voice, distinguish what it means to be informed by the past versus determined by the past and step into the new vision they have created for their lives. The young men also had the opportunity to develop positive relationships with adults in the community and now have a network of adults who will support them in reaching their future goals and dreams.
Rolfe Commissiong, who played a small role in the establishment of Mirrors four years ago, said:
I remain extremely proud of the work that is being done on behalf of our youth population. While much more needs to be done as evidenced by the Columbia University study on young black males, Mirrors remains a critical component of the Government’s overall strategy in this regard.
Minister of Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield said:
The 21 young men who participated in the completion ceremony – all between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age – need to be commended for their commitment to turning their lives around and restoring a sense of hope for their future. While this year’s graduates have been comprised of young men Mirrors also provides opportunities for young women to empower their lives and fulfil their potential.
The community must also realize that it has a role to play and we encourage community members to continue to support men such as these. It is you who will ultimately ensure that they are given the opportunity to grow and succeed.
The Mirrors Programme enters its fourth year of operation in 2010, with the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation being allocated $2.5 million in the 2010/11 budget to continue this initiative.
The Ministry plans to conduct two intensive 6-day residential training courses, one for 15-18 year olds [co-ed] and one for 19-23 year olds [male only]. In addition, Mirrors will continue to deliver Parent Workshops and Professional Development Trainings for participants 21 years of age and over.
For more information on how you can volunteer in the Mirrors Programme call 294-9291 or email mirrors@gov.bm
