Students from LW Young Junior High School’s Boys and Girls Empowerment Clubs recently paid a courtesy visit to Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt at Government House.

Founded in 2015 by Anita Wilmott, the Boys Empowerment Club was created to help young boys facing social challenges, particularly those struggling with conflict resolution and gang involvement. The initiative involved bringing in local leaders to meet with the boys during bi-weekly lunchtime seminars, and it quickly proved successful.

Following the success of the boys’ program, female students expressed interest in similar empowerment sessions. This led to the formation of the Girls Empowerment Club in 2019, which has since grown to over 100 members. 

Ms Wilmott hopes that the programme will continue to have a positive influence on the students’ lives, equipping them with essential social skills to carry into their future.

She expressed her commitment to ensuring that the students apply what they’ve learned throughout their lives, saying, “I want them to grow to become real men and women of virtue who will make good choices and have a positive influence on others.” 

Stresing the importance of social skills, she added : “social skills such as manners, respect, and consideration for others are necessary for today’s society.”