The Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) brought more than a dozen boys from communities across the island together at Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School in Vieux Fort for a six-day residential camp aimed at strengthening discipline, self-worth and leadership.
The camp formed part of the SSDF’s ongoing Our Boys Matter mentorship programme, which seeks to provide vulnerable young men with positive guidance while connecting them with mentors, educators and business professionals.
Throughout the retreat, participants were encouraged to view leadership as a responsibility rather than simply a position of authority.
Kenrick Henry, Manager of Massy Stores in Dennery, told the boys that effective leadership was rooted in character and the ability to make sound decisions.
“Leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room,” Henry said. “It is about making the right decisions, showing respect, taking responsibility, and having the courage to persevere when life becomes difficult.”
He encouraged the young men not to allow setbacks or the opinions of others to determine their future.
“There will be moments when people doubt you, when obstacles seem overwhelming, or when giving up feels easier than pushing forward,” Henry said.
“In those moments, remember that resilience is built one decision at a time.”
The programme also incorporated creative activities, with mural artist Najah Simeon highlighting the role of art in encouraging young people to think differently and engage with their surroundings.
Reflecting on a mural created during the camp, Simeon noted the reaction it generated among people passing the school.
“And the artwork that you painted today has made a lot of people comment as they pass in,” Simeon said. “The wall was grey and now everyone is talking about the wall.”
He used the experience to impress upon the participants that art should provoke thought and conversation.
“And one thing I’ve always told people, art is supposed to make you think. That’s the role of art,” Simeon said.
He described the ability to influence how people see the world as one of the most important roles an artist can play.
“And the artist has one of the greatest jobs on earth. They can make people stop and think, okay?” he said.
The camp also placed emphasis on perseverance, with Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School Principal Lorna Ambrose reminding the boys that personal development would require sustained effort.
“And let me let you know that it will not happen overnight,” Ambrose said. “It will come with efforts, it will come with perseverance, it will come with challenges,” she told the participants.
Ambrose urged the young men to remain committed despite the difficulties they may encounter.
“But guess what? If you don’t give up, if you don’t give in, if you follow the directives and the instructions that were given to you, you will become the better version of yourselves,” she said.
The six-day residential programme provided participants with an opportunity to step away from their normal environments and engage in structured mentorship, education and personal development activities.
The SSDF’s Our Boys Matter initiative continues to focus on supporting young men who may be vulnerable to social challenges by exposing them to positive role models and experiences designed to build confidence, responsibility and leadership.
The messages delivered during the camp centered on a common theme: becoming a better version of oneself requires discipline, resilience, accountability and the willingness to persevere when circumstances become difficult.