…boys told at special forum

SEVERAL boys of the Juvenile Detention Centre and the Sophia Special School were, yesterday (Thursday, May 16, 2019), reminded that, even after mistakes are made, there still remain opportunities for them to reform, and productively contribute to society.
The challenge to the youth was made at a forum, in celebration of World Day of the Boy Child, held at the Sophia centre compound.

“Boys face many challenges specific to boys that prevent them from achieving all they can. We all make mistakes, we all make wrong decisions, and we all should get a second, sometimes even a third and fourth chance to make it right,” remarked UNICEF Emergency Officer, Ian Jones, who made a presentation to the youngsters.

The event was organised by the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), reMan Guyana, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) Department of Social Cohesion, and the Ministry of Public Security Juvenile Justice System.

The young men also heard remarks from the Director of the Juvenile Justice Department, William Boston; MoTP Representative Ronald Austin, and a particularly motivational address by reformed former prisoner, Wendell Jeffrey.

Founder of reMan, Alvin Doris, noted that the world is acknowledging that young men go through a lot that lead them to making mistakes in life, and more needs to be done. “It is established globally that the boy child is afflicted by all kinds of debilitating circumstances that take them off course from progressing to success. One of these things is poverty, which is associated with lack of male achievement and lack of education. As such boys by and large have turned to crime and violence as a means of survival. So we understand that we have a responsibility to create an opportunity for you,” Doris told the young men.

Austin spoke of how several aspects of the Caribbean culture and its expectations and messages to young boys work to lead them down the wrong path, rather than uplifting them. “One of the main challenges of a boy growing up in the Caribbean is how to be accepted in the society. In the Caribbean you have to be tough and rough and be in with the crowd. There is this phenomenon that the boy who would get the respect is the boy that is the roughest and if you’re not that type you face being rejected. So we have violence becoming fashionable and accepted,” Austin pointed out.

The brainchild of Trinidadian, Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, WDBC was first observed on May 16, 2018, to highlight and open discussions on the many challenges faced by boys. It functions in complement to the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated since 2012 on October 11. Guyana is one of several countries that celebrate the day.
“We have to ask ourselves why it is important that we focus on boys. The fact remains that you are losing in every department; at university the girls are graduating in far larger numbers than boys, the girls are miles ahead of you,” Austin told the young men gathered at Monday’s event.

This year the WDBC is being celebrated under the theme “Supporting our boys, reclaiming our heritage”.

“We focus on the boy because the boy invariably will become the man, will become the husband. Will lead in creating families. Whether you like it or not you’re going to become a role model. That is why today the focus is on you,” Austin said.