Mirrors Programme training helps community workers

The Ministry of Community, Culture and Sports and the Mirrors Programme recently conducted a Professional Development Training for Educators, Youth and Community Workers. The three-day workshop was held on June 30th, July 1st and July 2nd, 2014.

The training took place as a result of discussions held between Bermuda Sloop Foundation and Mirrors Programme on how they could support one another as well as others in the community who work with young adults.  Bermuda Sloop Foundation has been gracious in allowing their entire staff the opportunity to be exposed to this development opportunity. 

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation has been in the process of transforming their organization through creating a continuum of service and saw an opportunity to partner with Mirrors as a support to that continuum and to provide transformational based professional development directly to the staff. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Spirit of Bermuda, Denise Riviere said, “I thought the Mirrors Training this week was very impactful and caused me to reflect and explore some aspects of myself that I have not thought of for a while.  It is so easy to get caught up in our everyday lives and accept the way things are, that we ignore the possibility that there is another way to exis, another way to think and relate to areas of our lives. After three days of being emerged in a process of self empowerment, I would recommend this course to adults and teens alike, who understands the value of self growth.  It was an intense and sometimes exhausting experience, but I am a better person for it and I believe in the program's ability to deliver on its mandate of "Transforming our community one person at a time."  

A total of 36 participants from the community, including but not limited to professionals in the public education system, youth workers from team street safe and residential care, youth sporting coaches, staff from Department for National Drug Control and Youth and Sport as well as Spirit of Bermuda staff, completed the workshop.  The 3 days of the workshop were a journey of exploration and discovery providing professionals with the opportunity to take a look at where they are in their lives and where they would like to be.  The participants engaged in conversations that challenged their thoughts and beliefs about themselves, their profession and others to support them in creating a new context from which to live their lives.  Participants also received information about how to become involved with Mirrors Programme as a volunteer.

Another workshop participant expressed that, “The training was life changing. The trainer gives you the information you need to open your mind and relate to youth, peers and family in a more productive and positive way”.

This collaboration is an example of how organizations can join resources to not only transform their work environment but to also foster a sense of togetherness in our community and society as a whole.

The next Professionals Training hosted by Mirrors Programme will be offered in September 2014 from the 24th – 26th.  If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in a professionals training or volunteering please contact the Mirrors Programme on 294-9291 or email [email protected].