4/8/2009 11:11:00 AM Celebrities to help teens salute our 400th anniversary
A summer concert by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is certainly one good reason to jump for joy!
These teens (with event coordinator Gladstone Thompson) are part of a new youth group called the ‘400th Year Anniversary Youth Task Force’ - created so that young Bermudians can organize events they want in order to recognize the island’s milestone birthday.
Their first event will be a Youth Forum tomorrow evening. *Photo by Helen Jardine
Some signature events
Tomorrow (Thursday) Youth Forum at Berkeley Institute, cafeteria from 5:30pm
April 16 and 17
'Youth Debate Tournament,' P5 and P6 students battle it out to debate the topic, 'Sailors that experienced Bermuda in 1609 were in the wrong profession.' Prospect Primary
May 6
'A Day of Responsibility' where young people demonstrate their commitment to the island. Takes place islandwide
A visit from American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is one way a group of teens wants to celebrate Bermuda's 400th anniversary.
In a bid to include teens in the festivities a new youth group has formed called the '400th Year Anniversary Youth Task Force.'
It was created so that young Bermudians can organize events they want in order to recognize the island's milestone birthday.
Among the list of events they came up with is a visit from American Idol winner Jordin Sparks in June - who is well-known for her duet hit 'No Air' with Chris Brown.
Youth Task Force coordinator Gladstone Thompson was asked to start up the group in December.
"We have a good cross-section of 17 young people in the Task Force," he explained, "from youth parliamentarians, graduates of the Mirrors programme and school students from both private and government schools.
"Our aim is for them to put together signature events so that young people feel they have been included in the 400 celebrations. It's important that they feel included because young people represent our future and to make them feel responsible for that future, we need to include them in activities today."
So far the group have organized six youth 'signature events.'
The first, a 'youth forum,' will be held tomorrow at the Berkeley Institute.
The purpose of this particular event is for Bermuda's youth to discuss the issues facing the future of our community such as gang violence, teen sexuality, Internet use and drugs.
Guest speakers include MP Ashfield DeVent, Pastor Damon Hendrickson from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Executive Director of Teen Services Michele Wade and even the Premier himself will make an appearance.
Organizers expect between 200 and 400 people and it is open to any adult who would also like to participate.
Prizes
The first 200 teens will be eligible for prizes.
"We're really trying to get the word out and get people aware of this forum - which is one solution to the problems that we have with our teens in Bermuda," said task force member and former Bermuda Teen Idol Alexa said. "My greatest hope is that the awareness will be there and the youth will come together regardless of whether they are Town or Country, male or female, at government or private school."
While Alexa believes the most important issue facing teens are the dangers that lurk on the internet, another Task Force member, Youth Tourism Officer Coy Millet, 16, feels that violence is the more pressing topic.
Coy said:
"I feel violence is the biggest issue among youth - it's pulling us apart. In order to move forward we must put aside ideas such as 'territory' and come together as a nation."
Coy added that it is important for the community to be involved with what's going on among the youth and that, often, they place them on the back-burner of their 'to do' list.
"A lot of times the youth aren't held up as a top priority," he said. "There is a 'we'll deal with them later' attitude and because of that many youths have suffered.
"That's why events like this, which involve the youth are so important."
The Task Force's Chief Moderator Staphen Dill, 19, was 'recruited' to the group by organizers after they heard of the success he has had with the Mirrors Programme last year.
Staphen says he constantly draws on many of the things he learned during the Mirrors programme regarding gang violence as a member of the Task Force.
"Life's about choices and every action has a reaction," he said. "So many people are looking to be what someone else says they should be, rather than just being themselves.
"For the youth forum we came up with these four topics collectively as four main things that have been holding up youth."
For more information email youthtaskforce09@gmail.com or glthompson@gov.bm
