Minister Updates On The Mirrors Programme
Speaking in the House of Assembly today [Nov 18], Minister of Social Development and Seniors Tinee Furbert provided an update on the Mirrors Programme and the “recent decision to formally align the organization with the Department of Child and Family Services.”
The Minister said, “The transition of the Mirrors Programme to the Department of Child and Family Services will provide a valuable opportunity to further strengthen administrative resources, clearer workflow processes and procedures, good governance, and new community programmes to be designed and offered.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to provide an update to this Honorable House and the general public about the current activities as it relates to the Mirrors Programme and the recent decision to formally align the organization with the Department of Child and Family Services [DCFS] in the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors.
Mr. Speaker, Mirrors has serviced over 500 children this year using the 8 Keys of Excellence as its foundation to build successful students and they have provided parents with the same foundation to deepen the “Keys” in families. The 8 Keys of Excellence are researched based principles that guide human behavior. They were developed by studying people who had achieved great success while maintaining personal excellence. Mirrors uses the “8 Keys” in middle school programming and more recently with the 19 senior school students that completed the 3 day residential intensive which allowed them to connect with one another, to reflect and take responsibility for their own personal development. Students put themselves through an intensive social emotional development environment to grow and learn new tools to be successful students. The skills learned at camp were designed to build resilience in young peoples’ lives and support them in every aspect of growth creating a “Be Great’ mindset.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors believes that nurturing environments enhance all wonderful qualities in children and this is the focus of the Mirrors Coaching for Success Community Programme. The theme for this year’s cohort is “Bermuda Be Great”. Mirrors has intentionally built a ‘great’ community of support at camp with volunteers and life coaches These life coaches will support the students, over the next 8 months, to achieve their personal transformational goals.
Mr. Speaker, Mirrors have just participated in the Ministry of Social Development/DCFS sponsored Parenting Expo to support parents and I want to thank the parents for entrusting their children to Mirrors and the team of trained volunteers. Those parents who attended the parent workshop, had the opportunity to explore the foundation’s work for themselves, and learned new ways to enhance their relationship with their sons and daughters and how commit to being a ‘great’ parent.
Mr. Speaker, the transition of the Mirrors Programme to the Department of Child and Family Services will provide a valuable opportunity to further strengthen administrative resources, clearer workflow processes and procedures, good governance, and new community programmes to be designed and offered.
Mr. Speaker, our community of volunteers have demonstrated greatness in committing to our youth with the countless hours of volunteerism provided through this programme to strengthen our community. Volunteers are pillars in the community for change and for that we are grateful. We thank them for seeing the need and responding. Thank you for showing compassion and supporting the Mirrors Programme and thank you for understanding the time commitments and providing your time. Today, I want you to know how much your service is appreciated by our Ministry, the Government, our community and the team at Mirrors. We are forever grateful for the seeds you have sown.
Mr. Speaker, Mirrors will be collaborating with parent teacher associations over the next 6 months to expand the 8 Keys of Excellence to parents and to primary school students through assemblies. The purpose is to build a common language and principles to live by that will help strengthen themselves as parents/guardians and build a common language between school, home and the community.
Mr. Speaker, Mirrors has been impacting the lives of youth and making a difference in our community for over 15 years. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.”
Thank you, Mr. Speaker!
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