2/5/2010 1:15:00 PM National Service Programme Young Bermudians to serve country 16 hours per month Premier's statement to the House of Assembly
Premier Dr. Ewart Brown
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Mohandas Gandhi
In the Throne Speech of November 2009 the Government stated its intention to reawaken the qualities of collaboration, basic teamwork and unfailing character in the people of Bermuda through a programme of national service.
The recent acts of senseless violence that have rocked Bermuda, together with the release of the Mincy Report highlighting the plight of our young men have clearly underscored the need for mentoring and other creative strategies to restore Bermuda's harmony and peace.
The Government has developed one such creative solution with the proposal for a National Service Programme. This programme is designed to engage our young Bermudian men and women in positive and meaningful activity and is only one part of a raft of options developed to not only counter the feeling of entitlement currently held by some of our young people, but also address anti-social behavior and youth violence.
Before I go on, let me say that I am proud to acknowledge the many accomplishments and contributions that scores of our young people have made to Bermuda over recent years.
The National Service Programme will allow even more of our young adults to contribute to Bermuda's national interest, personally and professionally. By sharing their acquired knowledge and talents with other younger Bermudians and by assisting our venerable seniors, the participants in the National Service Programme will be contributing to the development of Bermuda as a whole. Additionally, it will enable younger Bermudians to make sound career choices and enhance those skills required to make them undeniable assets to a broad range of employers.
This Government has reviewed National Service programmes which have been successfully implemented in other countries, such as those in South Africa and the United Kingdom, that offer voluntary state sponsored programmes. In the United States, the Corporation for National and Community Service sponsor several service options. In the Caribbean, Jamaica has a volunteer National Youth Service Programme, while the Bahamas is proposing that a programme be implemented. Let me take just a moment to outline how the programme could work.
Individuals who can volunteer for national service will include male and female Bermudians between the ages of twenty four (24) and thirty (30) years. Those who volunteer will be required to provide sixteen hours of service per month for two consecutive years in order to complete the programme. Those who fall within the qualifying age and who are pursuing education abroad may serve upon completion of their studies, with a view to completing their national service before their 30th birthday.
Individuals who volunteer for national service will go through a screening process to ensure the safety and best interest of all participants of the service programme.
A Department for National Service would be the headquarters and place of register for the National Service Programme. This Department will work in conjunction with public schools, the Bermuda College, community centers, hospitals, the Center on Philanthropy, rehabilitation agencies, sports programmes, and other organizations that may provide outreach services to youth, including youth with disabilities. Volunteers will also serve our venerable seniors. Clearly, all proposed activities will be subject to the Department's approval.
Let me share with you some examples of possible national service activities. A programme participant could tutor in an educational programme, or provide health, legal, and financial advice. A participant may be involved in coaching youngsters. The possibilities are indeed limitless and we look forward to considering other ideas from the community as the service takes root and flourishes.
Government and Quango organizations will be encouraged to provide Internship programmes. In this way, our young adults can train and mentor younger Bermudians giving them an insight into available future careers.
This Government will also encourage the private sector to become a part of this national movement. Businesses will be asked to offer Internship programmes that will allow those who volunteer to gain their national service hours by training and mentoring younger Bermudians. This will enable the young to gain practical knowledge of the working world and be introduced to the way business drives Bermuda's economy.
This Government believes no effort should go unnoticed. To reward young people who volunteer for the National Service Programme for their efforts, and to encourage them to contribute to the on-going success of the programme, the Government proposes that incentives be rendered to participants during and after national service is completed. Such incentives may include free public transportation, or include participation in national service as one of the criteria preferred for attaining Government funding for further education. And as I outline our initial thinking on incentives, I invite the private sector to consider incentives they could offer; such as discount card packages from various retailers, or preferential lending rates.
Over the next several weeks, MR. SPEAKER, members of the Bermudian public will have the opportunity to view the draft National Service Plan. I invite my colleagues in this Honourable House to carefully read it and submit your views and comments on how it can be improved. The draft plan is available online at www.gov.bm and submissions can be sent by email to nationalservice@gov.bm. The deadline for submissions is 31st March 2010.
Finally, MR. SPEAKER, It is my hope that collectively we, the Government and the community, can work together to make this programme a success to the benefit of all our young people and indeed, for the future of our country.
A plan for a National Service Programme for Bermuda
The National Service Programme is designed to provide opportunities for every young Bermudian to contribute meaningfully to our society and broaden their scope through mentoring younger peers and assisting the elderly.
Section 1
The Department for National Service
1. The Department for National Service would be the headquarters and place of register for the National Service Programme. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, the Department would be headed by a Director who would answer directly to the Permanent Secretary. The Director would be responsible for the strategic and policy direction as well as the management, administration and delivery of the programme. The Department would establish and maintain a database of all participating organizations and active national service enrollees. In addition to the Director, there would be an Administrative Officer/Assistant and Technical Support Officers. Full post duties and responsibilities are to be determined. The primary responsibilities of the Department would be:
a) Management and administration of the programme;
b) Recruitment and screening of National Service providers; and
c) Monitoring, reporting, enforcement, funding and adjustment of programme delivery.
2. The Department would work in conjunction with public schools, the Bermuda College, community centres, hospitals, the Centre on Philanthropy, rest homes, rehabilitation agencies, youth groups, sports programmes, and other organizations that may provide outreach to young people, including youth with disabilities. The Director would be responsible for duties which include, but are not limited to recruitment, screening, monitoring and compliance.
3. The responsibility of the Recruitment and Screening Unit within the Department would be to:
a) Act as a repository for community services and programmes;
b) Educate and raise awareness about the need to give back to the community;
c) Invite and solicit submissions from agencies and organizations who qualify;
d) Promote national service by advertising benefits and advantages of participating in the programme;
e) Act as the sign-up centre for national service activities;
f) Assess and place applicants in approved programmes; and
g) Develop additional incentive programmes.
4. The responsibility of the Compliance Unit would be to:
a) Keep a register follow-up on those who have registered for National Service from the age of 24 to 30 years;
b) Keep records on those who have set aside national service to pursue tertiary education;
c) Acknowledge those who have completed their time served; and
d) Continuously monitor and evaluate the programme operations.
Compliance
5. Compliance with the National Service is goal and incentive oriented.
Section 2
Eligibility
6. All male and female Bermudians are eligible until the age of 30 but they must make a commitment no later than their 28th birthday.
7. All persons who choose to commit to this programme must complete a requirement of 16 hours of service per month for a total period of two years in order to qualify for the benefits.
8. Except for mental or physical illness, where it is determined that an individual is unfit to serve in the National Service; he/she may be reassigned to other community service alternatives to be determined.
9. It is proposed that individuals having served (12) twelve months or more in the Regiment may request a transfer to the National Service Programme, pending approval from the Bermuda Regiment. As the commitment to the Bermuda Regiment is also of national significance, this would hinge upon the supplemental number of recruits available to fill that spot.
Vetting
10. Once registered for the national service, individuals must go through a qualifying screening process to ensure that the safety and best interest of all participants are protected. These measures would include but are not limited to:
a) police and court background checks;
b) physical and mental health examinations.
11. If a candidate seeks placement by the Department, screening for level of education, vocational training, and professional work experience would be conducted. In addition, candidates may notify the programme if they have a disability or religious affiliation that would impact their placement in certain programmes.
Section 3
National Service Programme Criteria
12. The National Service Programme shall be aimed at nurturing an individual's skills and interests in a manner that is beneficial to Bermuda and its people. This is consistent with both developing career goals and further assisting in communities after the period of service is complete.
13. The National Service Programme shall:
a) Meet an identified need in the participant;
b) Provide a meaningful community benefit; and
c) Encourage collaboration among young adults through the sharing of knowledge and talents.
14. Individuals may either select an activity of their choosing involving youth or seniors, or they may seek to be referred by the National Service Department. Subject to the Department's approval, national service may include, but is not limited to:
a) Tutoring core subjects in the education system or in an educational programme;
b) Provision of professional advice by those who are in the health, legal or financial sector about subjects such as money management, civil rights, and nutrition;
c) Coaching youth or holding an office in sports programmes;
d) Serving on private or Government Boards that involve or relate to youth or seniors;
e) Serving as a volunteer to youth or senior agencies/organizations;
f) Working on project proposals from various organizations involving youth or seniors; and
g) Serving as a resource for the Department of National Service by assuming leadership responsibilities as delegated by staff, i.e. coordinating/leading various volunteer activities.
15. Subject to the Department's approval, those who are between the ages of 24 and 30 who already serve in a volunteer capacity may continue in that capacity.
16. Those who already serve in a voluntary mentoring, coaching or professional advisory capacity would qualify for national service hours as determined by the National Service Department.
17. Service to organizations for profit, to labour unions or to organizations with political affiliations will not count toward National Service.
Section 4
Processes for accommodating National Service
Public Sector
18. Government and Quango organizations would allow employees to train and mentor young people giving them an insight into a future career, all the while allowing employees to gain their national service hours.
19. The public sector would be encouraged to give their employees a minimum of one (1) hour of service per month from their work time in order to assist them in carrying out national service activities within the community.
Private Sector
20. Businesses within the private sector would allow those who qualify to gain their national service hours by training and mentoring their younger peers so that they may gain practical knowledge of businesses in Bermuda's economic sector.
21. Businesses would be encouraged to give their employees a minimum of one (1) hour of service per month from their work time in order to assist them in carrying out national service activities within the community
Bermuda College
22. The Bermuda College would make national service opportunities available to students which shall include college-based volunteer programmes already implemented on campus, i.e. tutoring, maintenance, sports programs, events held on campus, and outreach initiatives.
Co-op Study Programme
23. Students certifying in programmes such as wood work, electronics, motor mechanics and computer technology at the Bermuda College would gain service hour credit for tutoring in maintenance/technical programmes within schools.
Section 5
Incentives for those providing National Service
24. The following are proposed incentives to offer participants during and/or once national service is completed:
a) Free public transportation;
b) One of criteria for Government Further Education awards;
c) Low interest bank loans;
d) Discount card packages from various retailers;
e) Discounts at TCD on licensing fees;
f) Public recognition once service is completed;
g) Badges/certificates of completion;
h) Supportive organizations will be eligible for benefits.
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Comment by:
Conscripted
The Regiment is no different than slavery, the government save money by enslaving young people into these programs. They cannot affort to pay professionals to do these tasks because they are too busy wasting the tax payers money elsewhere. So this is an excellent solution just like the regiment, it will be biased and as Phil said, will keep young people especialy young men off the rock.
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Comment by:
Paul Basden
I would like to suggest the removal of points 6 & 10, as well as the modification of point 4(a) as there should be no barriers to what everyman can do when we work together, not only people in their late 20’s. Keeping an regular eye on recruits by monitoring their progress would be sufficient, I believe, given that most non-profit, public & private organizations have their own particular screening processes. Limiting participation to 2 years may also discourage lifelong learners who could approach this simply out of interest in volunteering in partnership with Government, rather than as an obligation to meet the requirements for benefits.
Also, it would be best to regard this service as a supplement to applying for Government Further Education awards, rather than as a requirement or prerequisite. Others should still be at least considered for educational funding from Government.
Finally, is there any way to minimize the costs of administering such a program and increase ease of access by combining this initiative with the purview of NTB or Labour & Training, each of which currently must be applied to separately?
Posted: Sunday, February 07, 2010
Comment by:
Phil
Didn't realise the scheme will be voluntary, so I withdraw my comments about it illiberal and acting as an incentive for young Bermudians to stay off the island. However, being voluntary it seems even less likely to have any impact on antisocial behaviour.
Posted: Friday, February 05, 2010
Comment by:
Phil
The proposed scheme is onerous, illiberal, and starts too late to have any meaningful impact on antisocial behaviour (much of which is being perpetrated by people younger than 24). Like conscription, it will simply act as another incentive for Bermuda's best and brightest to stay off the island after finishing their studies.
