|
From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Service Organizations
Nassau, Bahamas - Internal challenges, namely a lack of volunteers, prevented the Governor General’s Youth Award from reaching its 2012 registration goal of 2,000 youths, attendees at the organization’s Annual General Meeting were told over the weekend.
Although there was a 16 percent decline in registration last year, the number of participants receiving Awards (the retention rate) was up 21 percent year on year, according to the programme’s national director, Denise Mortimer.
f The GGYA presents Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards to high achieving participants who ulfill requirements in four sections: skills, community service, physical recreation and adventurous journey (hiking). Each Award requires an increasing commitment of time.
A record breaking 43 participants received their Gold Award last year. Another high note, the internationally recognized youth programme graduated its first cohort of special needs students. These Bronze Awards recipients came from the Beacon School in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
There are currently 1,658 GGYA participants throughout the country with more than 50 units spread throughout The Bahamas on islands including New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island. Despite operating as efficiently as possible the economic downturn has taken a toll on the programme’s finances, volunteers, board members and other stakeholders heard. Income totaled $356,000, while expenditures amounted to just under $380,000 for 2012 – a deficit totaling around $24,000, reported Everette Mackey, the GGYA’s national council treasurer. A main source of funding for the programme is the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture’s G.O.L.D. Initiative – a three-year, financial partnership set to expire in December. In a written message to attendees, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr. Daniel Johnson said the need to invest in the nation’s youths is greater now than ever before. He touted the benefits of the distinguished programme. “It encourages them to develop into responsible, active citizens who will positively contribute to society,” said Dr. Johnson. “Further it presents a balanced, non-competitive schedule of voluntary activities, inspiring personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, and service to the community.” Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting held at the British Colonial Hilton this past Saturday, Director of Youth, Kyran Turnquest expressed optimism that the partnership between the government and the youth programme would continue beyond 2013. “I’ve looked at the annual report and I’m impressed with the numbers. I’m impressed with the Family Island involvement,” said Mr. Turnquest. “I would definitely be advising my minister that this is something that we’re looking to do, embrace those organizations that are doing some great work and especially those organizations that are reaching the Family Islands.” Extremely pleased with the GGYA’s progress is chairman of the National Council, Jack Thompson. He was recently appointed to the International Council of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As the programme heads into its 26th year of operation, Mr. Thompson believes the GGYA has many more young people to reach. “In five years we are going to be the pacesetters in this country, the fact that we are recognized and fully endorsed by the government of the Bahamas is, in and of itself, evidence of the success of the programme,” said Mr. Thompson. “Within five years our numbers would have exploded, the testimonials would be even greater.” In the future, Mr. Thompson said he would like to see GGYA have its own headquarters and additional staffing. GGYA re-qualifies to operate youth programme International programme undergoes rebranding The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme, of which the Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA) is an affiliate, is headed in a new direction with its global re-branding effort. Over 140 countries currently affiliated with the programme will have to incorporate a new, official logo within their current designs. They must also apply to receive a licence to operate and gain accreditation as a branch affiliated with the UK-based, International Award Programme. Here in The Bahamas, the GGYA’s executive national director, Denise Mortimer supports such re-branding. She said as much during the youth programme’s Annual General Meeting held this past Saturday at the British Colonial Hilton. “We’re still going to be GGYA. We just have to incorporate the international logo,” said Ms Mortimer who explained that the re-branding would ensure that there’s no unauthorized duplication of the programme. “This is good because we want to ensure that the quality of the programme remains intact,” said the national director. Chairman of the GGYA’s National Council, Jack Thompson explained further: “The entire programme has been overhauled to give it a new face-lift and to ensure the standard of the programme. One will have to apply all over again to operate the programme.” In about a month the public could expect to see the new design incorporated in the current GGYA logo, said Mr. Thompson. GGYA has already submitted its application for licensing and has received correspondence from the international programme’s regional governing body. The GGYA is in the “advance stage” of its renewal process. “We have been examined before. Our books have been open to them before,” said Mr. Thompson. “We are one of the success stories in this region, and we don’t anticipate any problems with our approval. When we consider what we have accomplished, when we look at the success and impact of our programme and wonderful testimonies from past participants. It’s a sail through for us.” Aside from a logo change, the global re-branding process includes other components such as licensing and standards, the creating of an on-line record book, on-line communication, on-line leader training and quality assurance. Now in its 26th year of operations, the GGYA has catered to more than 8,000 youths. The programme focuses on four components to building a well-rounded individual. Those components are community service, skill, personal fitness and an adventurous journey challenge. After fulfilling time requirements, participants are eligible for a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.
|
