BTC MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER Issue # 4 3 BTC May 2013 Newsletter BEGINNING THE CHANGE IN THIS ISSUE Boys Training Centre by Elvin Ryan Germain A BRIEF HISTORY environment, or children who do not Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret have parents/guardians with the officially opened the Boys Industrial School, ability to meet their needs. BTC on February 20th 1960 at Massade, Gros Wards ages range from 10 to 18 years. US Coast Guard/USAID Visit Islet. At the time it housed 17 male juveniles However, they are not admitted once The Crew of US Coast Guard Cutter Oak and US AID they’ve attained the age of 16 years. and was staffed by three persons. collaborated to execute a community service and charity The school was the brainchild of Sir THE STRUCTURE football game. Stanislaus James, the first trained Social The Centre currently operates on the Page 4 Worker and first Probation Officer in St. mainstream school timetable and every ward Lucia who brought about the establishment is expected to attend vocational training of this institution through his perseverance and/or remedial education classes. At regular and determination. breaks in the school year, wards are allowed home leave. Home leave is a privilege earned In 1974, on the recommendation of a for good behaviour. Government appointed advisor it was renamed Saint Lucia Boys’ Training Centre As each ward’s abilities are identified he is and its mandate was changed to include boys given extra support with these specific in need of care and protection. abilities and the centre is now looking to the wider community to develop apprenticeship ADMISSIONS programmes in the areas of auto mechanics, All wards are committed to the Centre by an welding, agriculture and woodwork. Reading Month order of the Family Court in two categories. The Educational Department of the BTC planned and Children in conflict with the law: boys executed activities to commemorate Reading Month: May. under the age of 16 who have committed crimes. Page 3 Care & Protection: Boys who have not committed any crime but who have been truant at their schools are disruptive in the home or school BTC MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER | Issue # 4 2 Des’ Barre SDA Church Visit On Saturday 18th April 2013 the Des’ Barre SDA Church from the area of Babonneau visited the Boys’ Training Centre. The group was given a tour of the BTC property before meeting the wards and staff on duty. The group engaged all the wards in prayer, singing, interactive games, motivational talks and served refreshments. The wards seemed Group picture of the Des’ Barre SDA to enjoy the afternoon activity Church especially the refreshments and the interaction with young persons in the group. BTC MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER | Issue # 4 3 Reading Facts Reading Month Sandra Ayres (volunteer) reading by to the wards Samantha Joseph The Education Department of the Boys’ One of the main goals is to ensure all wards Training Centre is back in action this month can read fluently. In addition, it helps with the observance of Reading Month. cultivate a strong passion for books and “Unlocking the potential within: Discovering unlock that power which they possesses to Reading is very important. It is necessary for everybody the world through reading”, is a very transport the reader to another place and because it has great benefits. Language skills and so appropriate theme for this year’s celebration spark your imagine and forge dreams that much more can be improved through reading. By of Reading Month. The members of the dominated our minds, eventually making us reading a book you can transport yourself to any location and feel as if you are actually there, Education Department view reading as a key into the unique persons we are. The library experiencing what is going on in the book. You will feel factor which can aid the wards at the BTC project facilitated that goal of the BTC as if what you are reading is reality. Your imagination unlock the potential within. Education Department, through the variety will get better through reading. Other main benefits of of reading material provided and the reading as follows: 1. Language Skills are improved The wards are forged from different refurnishing of the existing library. The staff, Through Reading 2. Reading Opens the Doors to New situations and circumstances. It can be wards and management of the Boys’ Opportunities 3. Reading Makes It Easier to Be More challenging to work with them but the wards Training Centre would like to extend a special Social 4. Hand and Eye Coordination is Enhanced 5. received individual attention. Through the thank you to the librarians. Reading is fun daily grinned, staff try to dissolve that negative energy and venture deeper to replace it with the positive, good energy that is present in all the wards. This month the Castries Central Library, in collaboration with other community libraries, assisted the BTC in cataloguing and creating a system to utilize the collection of books. These few dedicated librarians visited the BTC every Friday to assist with cataloguing, processing, classifying and creating pocket cards and labels. In addition, librarians conducted a reading session for the wards. Listening to a story and reading that same story will This venture is a magnanimous gesture and activate the exact same pathways in the brain. It's not the teachers and wards applaud all the where the sensory information comes from but, where it efforts performed. ends up in the brain. Our eyes act more like ears when we read. READING FACTS 98% of reading is an auditory/ listening task At the end of the project, each staff and ward will be able to access books and novels just as 2% the normal Library service. Furthermore, the of reading is visual BTC teachers will be trained at the Castries Central Library to coordinate and manage FOR MORE INFORMATION the library at the BTC. www.shortfacts.com BTC MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER | Issue # 4 4 USAID Juvenile Justice Outreach Program: US Coast Guard Community Service On Friday 24th May 2013, approximately ten their positive integration into the job market (10) crew members from the US Coast Guard following the completion of studies at the Cutter (USCGC) Oak along with members of BTC the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) and a representative from the USAID visited The friendly football game showcased fun, the Boys’ Training Centre (BTC). The visit skill and high drama, not like your UFEA comprised of a brief donation ceremony of 15 Champions League final but equal to a Adidas footballs; guided tour of the facility English Primer League match. The USCGC and friendly football match against the BTC Oak crew put a respectable fight in the first Under -16 football team. The attendees were half. Unfortunately, the USCGC Oak crew fell the Permanent Secretary (Mrs. Joanna prey to gauntlet of exquisite passing, baffling Raynold Arthurton) and Deputy Permanent saves and lightning fast counter attacks from Secretary (Ms. Debra Charlery) of Ministry of the BTC Under 16 team which resulted in the Social Transformation, Local Government final score on the match card BTC seven (7 ) and Community Empowerment; goals and USCGC Oak Crew one (1). Commissioner of Police (Mr. Vernon Afterwards, the crew took some time to Francois); Mr. Mansfield Blackwood (USAID); mentor the wards and shared some life Major Dustin G. Heumphreus (Plans and experiences which influenced them to join Operations Officer, USMLO Eastern the US Coast Guard. They encouraged the Caribbean); crew of USCGC Oak and other wards to look beyond their delinquent military personnel. behaviour and unfortunate circumstances to start chartering positive thoughts which will elevate the negative path their lives have taken. The USCGC crew in turn invited the BTC wards and staff to their vessel (Cutter Oak) berthed at the Castries habour on Monday 27th May 2013. This provided the wards and staff with insight into the operations of US Coast Vessel and the mammoth tasks that the crew conducts through homeland security; disaster relief operations and search This joint visit to the Boys’ Training Centre and rescue missions throughout the (BTC) complements USAID's Juvenile Justice southeast United States and U.S. interests in Reform Program (JJRP) that is being the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico and implemented by the Secretariat of the the U.S. Virgin Islands. Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. The Boys’ Training Centre is a beneficiary under the JJRP as part of a process of The management and staff of the BTC would integrating all support services associated like to extend special thank you to the Crew with the juvenile justice process within Saint of the US Coast Guard Cutter Oak and USAID Lucia. Assistance is being provided to BTC to for the time spent with wards and the upgrade its Industrial Arts and Agricultural donation of the 15 Adidas footballs which will program through improved curricula and the compliment the evolving and dynamic sports provision of related equipment valued at program at the lone juvenile detention centre approximately US$ 15, 000. Such support will on island. enhance the effectiveness of training and will ultimately lead to better learning experiences for the wards that will support BTC MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER Issue # 4 3 The Saint Lucian Supermodel On Friday 10th May 2013, a Saint Lucian Supermodel based in Italy gave a welcome surprise to the Boys Training Centre. Ms. Portia Cherry recently took part in the Hot Couture Fashion Show. She donated two barrels to the management and staff of the Boys’ Training Centre. Her donation included clothes, cleaning products, food items and schools supplies. Information Technology Lab The Boys’ Training Centre will be the proud recipient of a fully furnished Information Technology Lab before the end of 2013.