"EACH OF US HAS A SPARK OF LIFE INSIDE US, AND WE MUST SET OFF THAT SPARK IN ONE ANOTHER" -- Kenny Ausubel Most people would probably agree that participation in quality youth programmes and neighbourhood-based activities is a good thing for young people. LIGNUM VITAE CENTRE OF HOPE, BAHAMAS 4-H, and HELP FOR CHILDREN recognise that not nearly enough children and teenagers are engaged in these growth-enhancing opportunities. Young people are given a voice and an opportunity to express themselves in a 4-H club environment and classrooms, where they have fun learning by "doing" and not just listening. They learn to think, communicate, make good decisions, better choices, explore new hobbies, develop leadership skills, set goals, assist their community with focus projects and take pride in caring for their health. Young people themselves hold the key to helping their communities solve problems within their urban environments - we see the value in giving them a medium in which they can elect their own officers within a structured club environment. In any given community, youth development opportunities, - that is, relationships, experiences, and programmes that promote the healthy development of young people could theoretically occur in non-profit youth organisations, and in a myriad of settings and institutions. Bahamas 4-H partnership with The University of Florida 4-H IFAS extension agents have given us an opportunity to visit and bring the 4-H experience to nine urban communities within New Providence. A framework was created to assess what types of youth development opportunities a community might offer it's young people. We strive to encourage all to become opportunity-enriched communities, with choices of school-based, community based opportunities with lots of informal opportunities. We are pleased to report that not only are our youth learning but they are taking information home to share with their families. Statistics prove that over 80 per cent of youth who belong to a 4-H club are not engaged in gangs or in other destructive behaviours. Help for Children (established by Corona International Women's Club) have worked for 15 years with Children and Youth in challenging environments bringing opportunities and programmes to enhance their futures. Currently, Help for Children are working a pilot project with five-year-olds and are assessing their readiness for an educational experience. If you would like to meet with us to discuss training in the 4-H youth development programme and Help for Children outreach contact us at Ligumvitaebahamas.org. or 676-9240.