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FTM Group to mentor youths at Step Up forum

Organisers will seek to wield the influence of local role models in another initiative to reach the youth of the Territory when the Follow The Movement Group (FTM) hosts ‘Step Up’ – a seminar for young men on March 7, 2014 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC). Photo: VINO
First Lady, Mrs Lorna Smith, OBE expressed that she was very pleased to be a part of the forum and was very excited about the upcoming event. She opined that young people need something to rally around and have a sense of pride in. Photo: VINO
First Lady, Mrs Lorna Smith, OBE expressed that she was very pleased to be a part of the forum and was very excited about the upcoming event. She opined that young people need something to rally around and have a sense of pride in. Photo: VINO
Local youth mentor Melvin M. Turnbull aka Mitch, who heads Project Lionheart and has dedicated much of his life to working with youths, hailed the multi-agency approach being taken by FTM and said it was all about partnerships in reaching the youth. Photo: VINO
Local youth mentor Melvin M. Turnbull aka Mitch, who heads Project Lionheart and has dedicated much of his life to working with youths, hailed the multi-agency approach being taken by FTM and said it was all about partnerships in reaching the youth. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Organisers will seek to wield the influence of local role models in another initiative to reach the youth of the Territory when the Follow The Movement Group (FTM) hosts ‘Step Up’ – a seminar for young men on March 7, 2014 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).

The initiative follows on the heels of a similar forum for young women hosted by FTM late last year with guest speaker and performer Melanie Fiona.

President of the FTM Group, Craig Lake aka Push Pop envisions that the forum will be an annual event which will increase its reaches and general effectiveness.

First Lady, Mrs Lorna Smith, OBE expressed that she was very pleased to be a part of the forum and was very excited about the upcoming event. She opined that young people need something to rally around and have a sense of pride in.

“We expect [the young people] to feel more motivated, we expect them to have a greater sense of hope for the future, more passion about the community, more pride in the British Virgin Islands…” Mrs Smith said.

Mrs Smith also saw a need for greater levels of mentoring and increased involvement by businesses and members of the community, “I think the business community needs to be more supportive of young people and their efforts,” she said.

“We talk about [youths] being the future, but you have to point them to the direction that they should be going to or their being the future could be a future that could be disastrous,” Mrs Smith added.

She also pointed to the wide use of social media among youths and illustrated that more positive messages could be encouraged and derived from its usage.

Local youth mentor Melvin M. Turnbull aka Mitch, who heads Project Lionheart and has dedicated much of his life to working with youths, hailed the multi-agency approach being taken by FTM and said it was all about partnerships in reaching the youth.

Speakers at the forum will be addressing a range of topical issues that affect youth when the event kicks off at the College at 10:00AM. Parents are also invited to be a part of the event. The forum will be graced by several celbrity and guest speakers and will witness performances by Planet VI. Among the keynote speakers will be Ms Lavern Horne-Gumbs, Mr Bryan scatliffe, Mr David Foot, Mr David Morris, Mr Clarence M. Faulkner, Mr Julien Johnson, Mrs Kaylinda Richardson and Mr Mitch Turnbull. 

The youths will be divided into groups at the forum and are expected to participate in several highly interactive sessions with each of the speakers. 

Turnbull added that the previous forum had many follow up questions from the young ladies and a similar scenario was expected with the over 300 Third and Fourth Form males that the group will be addressing.

“The key is to attract and have conversations around these topics that they each will face some time in their lives,” Turnbull said.

Follow the Movement will be doing continuous follow-ups with the youth to gauge the progress made following their attendance at the forum.

Participants will once again be provided transportation from Virgin Gorda by Speedy’s and ground transportation by Romasco Group.

8 Responses to “FTM Group to mentor youths at Step Up forum”

  • tola (25/02/2014, 09:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    U see trash is a dddddd. Sucker
  • Eh? (25/02/2014, 10:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    It doesn't matter what forum these elites are apart of. We have bigger problems than follow the movement. Right now our kids are on a marijuana movement and this organization is all about capitalizing on these effortless children. The kids want money and don't know how to spend it. The kids want to be like the rappers and ballers and don't know have a clue how to get there. FTM are just screening out the so call good from the bunch and working with them.

    Lets get innovative through the department of Youth and start tackling these social problems head on with interactive programs that can bring solutions to our shores.
  • mother hen (25/02/2014, 10:54) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    all of a sudden every body like youths just like another Myron fake
    • Hmm (25/02/2014, 12:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      But Fraser and Shane love them right? Love them so much instead of lobbying for development like Trash is doing, they're lobbying for big stupid bikes so they could sell their wares. who they fooling? not me. lol
      • @ Hmm (26/02/2014, 07:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Mvw you just a sick mental puppy I feel for you thank god for government!!!
  • ?? (25/02/2014, 11:22) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    He from belle vue how come he not promoting squad up??
  • AC 360 (26/02/2014, 07:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lake getting his one min of fame
  • WHY? (26/02/2014, 08:13) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why are we so quick to call down someone's efforts? At least these people are trying to DO something for the young people. What do you do? Come online and criticise and drive past them on the streets with your nose turned up? Come on man! Let's be positive and support the effort regardless of what we think of the person initiating the idea or what we think his motives might be. Rise up and do something or sit down and shut the hell up!!!!


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