Student helpers act as agony aunts to programme's at-risk youngsters

When 17-year-old Karen Bennett applied for a summer job, she expected to spend her days in an office.

Instead she found herself sleeping in a barn, cleaning out stables and acting as agony aunt to a group of troubled teenagers not much younger than herself.

Miss Bennett was among a group of psychology students overseeing the Government’s Summer Experience Programme for at-risk youth.

Camping

As a team leader she had to do everything the kids did — from feeding pigs on a farm to camping on Darrell’s Island.

The Warwick Academy graduate was one of a group of summer students who passed the department’s training and interview process to be involved in the scheme.

She said: “I applied to Labour and Immigration looking for a summer job.

“I thought I would be in the business field as there aren’t many psychology placements.

“I got a call saying I was going to have an interview and I would have to create an adventure situation for young people.

“It was exciting to have a placement in my field.”

Camille Creary, 19, another student who took part in the programme, said it was an amazing experience.

She quickly discovered that to win the respect and trust of the kids you had to do everything they did — even if it meant getting knee-deep in dirt.

One of her first jobs was to help clear out a storage barn at the farm and turn it into living quarters. She said some of the kids had been difficult at first but had grown to be like a family by the end of the summer.

“To begin with some of them were miserable, they did not want to be there.

“But by the end of the first week people had made their bonds and the bonds continued to grow.

“Now I love my children and they love each other.”

Part of the role of the summer students was to look after the children — teach them how to cook, teach them the tasks involved and try to keep them interested.

They also had to diffuse conflicts and address the emotional needs of the young people.

Conflicts

Miss Creary said some of the children had difficulties with anger management and some simply did not like each other.

She added: “We had to teach them to get over their little conflicts and to approach things with a different mindset.

“Regardless of the fact that you don’t like somebody you can still work with them.”

The concept of using summer psychology students helped the Department of Child and Family Services staff the programme and provide valuable work experience for young people looking for careers in the field.

From learning to cook to learning not to cuss, it was a productive summer for the youngsters in the Summer Experience Programme.

At a passing-out ceremony last Friday some of the teenagers involved in the scheme shared their experiences with the Bermuda Sun.

One 13-year-old boy said his highlight had been cooking for his team.

Eggs

He added: “I enjoyed the farm the most. I liked cleaning out the animals taking out the eggs and I enjoyed cooking for everyone.

“I had never been on a farm before and it stunk.

“You’ve got to watch your step because of all the animal faeces.

“I also enjoyed doing community service at the Salvation Army and we went down to the Co-Ed to listen to the prisoners.”

Another youngster liked doing work experience at a barbershop.

He enjoyed the farm, too, once he got used to the animals. He said: “I don’t like animals that are bigger than me.”

He got involved because “Mr. Maybury told me I had to”.

He added: “He asked me what I was doing for summer and I told him nothing, so he said, ‘You might as well come on this then’.”

Another 13-year-old boy said he learned a lot from the experience, made new friends and changed his attitude.

He added: “I have changed a bit as a person. Before I used to cuss at everybody and get angry when things went wrong. Now I handle things in a different way.” A 14-year-old girl proudly showed off the checkers board she made at the carpentry workshop.

She had never worked with tools before.

She said: “Last year I was just hanging out with friends and Facebooking everybody. This year it came down to working and thinking about some stuff.”

The teenager enjoyed the community service aspect of the programme.

She said: “It made me appreciate what I have. It felt good to help in the community for the first time. I don’t really do that.”