Use programme as a platform

Participants in the Barbados 4-H Foundation’s Summer Training Programme have been told not to discard the skills and knowledge gained over the past eight weeks.

Rather, Training Coordinator, Lynette Phoenix-Walcott is encouraging them to use the information as a platform to start their own business. She has also encouraged parents and guardians to support their children and see that they continue to utilise and build on what was taught during the session which ran from July 9th to August 31st.

“These days jobs are hard to come by, even for you, so you would know when it comes their time there may not be none there to get. So encourage them to use the skills to make at least a little pocket money and they can do it. Once a child is determined, they want to do it, he or she can get it done. Don’t sit back and say, he can’t do that.”

Phoenix-Walcott gave remarks during Saturday’s closing ceremony for the Programme. This was held at the 4-H Headquarters at Crumpton Street, St. Michael.

She disclosed that the Programme catered initially to 50 participants but this number then dipped to 45 participants. She said the group, which range in age from seven to 16 years old, was a “great team”, though talkative.

The youngsters were introduced to a number of new courses on this occasion. These included learning to identify pest on different types of plants, learning to cook and staff from the National Council on Substance Abuse (NSCA) led a session on drug use and abuse.

Phoenix-Walcott also shared that embroidery was taught to both male and female participants. She stated that the males, with the exception of one, participated and they did well. She urged parents not to tell their boys that embroidery “is a girls things” instead they should encouraged them to get involved in all types of activities.