NASSAU, The Bahamas – Students of LW Young Boys & Girls Empowerment Club participated in a one-day seminar at the Fox Hill Community Centre on Friday, 22nd April.  Principal, Deborah Thompson delivered welcome remarks.  Dr. Tevin Ferguson served as Moderator.

During the opening ceremony, Wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis delivered the keynote address. While speaking to the students, Mrs. Davis encouraged them to continue to be positive role models in their respective communities,

“Leadership is not limited to just a select few area,” she said. “You can be a leader in whatever you choose. You can make a positive change in your community, in your country or even in the world. And never give up on your dreams. Whenever your pursuits get challenging or too difficult, just remember this quote by Nelson Mandela who said: ‘It seems impossible until it’s done.’”

She also discussed the importance of attending school, which she said fosters traits such as kindness, empathy, respect for authority, development of proper social skills and the ability to negotiate and network with each other in addition to attaining skills and education from learning regular subjects.

“When you attend school, you learn to read, speak and write but you also learn survival skills.  School is where we all start the journey of living as individuals,” she said.

She also discussed excerpts from the book, ‘7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens’ written by Sean Covey. The habits include: Be proactive; Begin everything with the end in mind; Prioritize; Compromise to end with a win-win situation; Seek to understand others; Celebrate differences; and Regularly renew yourself.

Also in attendance was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service, the Hon. Fred Mitchell, who told the students of the background of the Fox Hill Community Centre -- the brainchild of former MP, the late George Mackey.

The seminar featured speakers who presented topics such as: Character Building; Physical and Mental Awareness in a Post-COVID environment; Cyber Technology Do’s and Don’ts; and Social Graces.

The Boys and Girls Empowerment Club was the vision of veteran educator, Mrs. Anita Wilmott in 2018. She along with six dedicated mentors, initially started mentoring boys but later expanded and started a club for girls.

Students of the LW Young Boys & Girls Empowerment Club participated in a one-day seminar held at the Fox Hill Community Centre on Friday, 22nd April.   (BIS Photo/Betty Vedrine)

Wife of the Prime Minister (Office of the Spouse), Mrs. Ann Marie Davis delivering the keynote address at the 1st annual LW Young Boys and Girls Club seminar at the Fox Hill Community Centre on Friday, 22nd April.   (BIS Photo/Betty Vedrine)