Time for nurturing in short supply

THE EDITOR: Over the years we at the YMCA’s youth outreach programme have realised that sparing the time, love, understanding, structure and right to expression has ‘spoilt’ our nation’s children and that they are as open to support, change and improvement in their lives as the next human being. This process however requires a lot of time which sadly seems to be in short supply. Whereas all persons need the necessities of food, shelter and clothing we underestimate the most critical needs of nurturing and acceptance. Are our families, communities, churches, NGOs, CBOs, schools, working environments at all providing this?

This year the YMCA outreach programme has lost four of its participants, both past and present, to violence, the most recent being a teenaged boy who was shot inside a club in St James a few weeks ago. He was truly a loving playful young man who had emotional/behavioural problems due to suspected abuse and neglect that his single mother and the education system found difficult to cope with. Nonetheless he often visited the YMCA where he was referred since February of this year, genuinely interested in his progress. He was remembered by many at his funeral as the boy who brought gifts for his teachers, always willing to help, always smiling and yes, always up to mischief too. It was a traumatic experience for all concerned and we, as a society must never become desensitised to the violence and suffering in our communities. We must commit to loving, respecting and caring for ourselves and by extension others and take time to experience the gift of life.

GREGORY SLOANE-SEALE
YMCA
Port-of-Spain