Project SOFT students urged to follow key steps

Participants of Project SOFT (Safeguarding Our Future Today) are more aware of the steps to take to ensure they make the best choices.

This follows an informative talk by Sargeant Hallam Jemmott, who is the officer in charge of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Juvenile Liaison Scheme. He spoke to the 32 campers during a session on Wednesday at Mariah Retreat House. The topic he dealt with was “Juvenile Delinquency”.

Jemmott reminded the pre-teens that almost everything done in life requires them to make a choice. Therefore when it comes to decision making they should focus on their CACTUS (Choices, Attitude, Consequence, Team work, Ultimate goals and Strengths). Some of what he shared included the fact that they should always make positive choices, be mindful that sometimes your attitude can help or hinder you from being successful and that they should
find their strengths, focus on them and develop them.

He additionally encouraged the participants, who are involved in the 15th annual one-week residential camp, to think for themselves and not to follow others blindly. He further told them to be aware that each choice they make has a positive or a negative consequence.

Jemmott also gave the group background about what juvenile delinquency is. He spoke about the role of the Scheme and shared some of the trouble youngsters find themselves in that leads to them being placed in reformatory and industrial schools.

He left the participants of Project SOFT, which is hosted by the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), with four keys things that they should keep in mind. These were to understand that change begins with them, to know that they should learn to listen and listen to learn, to be mindful that together everybody achieves more and lastly to be willing to embrace error and celebrate success. (MG)