Helping hand for children

SPORTS FOR LIFE (SFL) continues to give children a new outlook on life.
On Saturday, 42 participants between the ages of 12 and 14 showed exactly how the programme has helped to enhance their lives during a graduation ceremony for the 2012-2013 class at The St Michael School.
The graduates, who were selected from 11 secondary schools, used the opportunity to showcase through songs, poems, skits and even a Power-point presentation how the one-year programme assisted in their development.
Now in its sixth year, the regional programme, which is also held in St Vincent, St Lucia and Trinidad, caters to less advantaged children.
The chairman of SFL, Brenda Pope, who flew in from France to attend the event, urged the graduates to put into practice the advice they would have received over the course’s duration.
“This programme would have taught you that by using sports as a catalyst you can enhance your self-confidence, poise and life skills.
“All of you are at the beginning of your lives . . . and I hope that this programme will give you some serious ammunition to allow you to really live up to your potential,” she advised.
Sharron Alleyne-Elcock, marketing manager at United Insurance Company Limited, one of the main sponsors of SFL, praised the programme saying that it “allowed the youth to show and display their excellence”.
She told the participants that once they acted on the knowledge which had been imparted on them they would stand themselves in good stead for the future.
During the presentation of awards, Alma Parris’ Keann Griffith copped the coveted participant of the year award. In addition, Griffith also won awards for most outstanding female participant, English and general Literacy, leadership, mathematics and general numeracy, most improved cricketer, progressive achievement, information technology and most disciplined.
In being named the most outstanding male participant, Grantley Adams Memorial’s Matthew King also took home a handful of other awards.
Those included awards for life skills, progressive achievement, industry and exemplary deportment.
With a total of 311 points, White Shottas received the house of the year award, finishing just ahead of Light Blue Stars (304), Golden Lions (294) and Blue Legends (284). Alma Parris was also named school of the year.
United Insurance’s marketing manager Sharron Alleyne-Elcock welcomed the Sports For Life programme. (FP)