At-risk youth are benefitting from an immersive experience aimed at equipping them with essential life skills.
The transformative initiative dubbed BLOOMing Youth programme (named from an acronym for Building, Climate-Smart Livelihood Opportunities through Opportunity, Outreach and Mentorship), is being coordinated by the Institute for Gender Development: Nita Barrow Unit (IGDS:NBU) with over US $50 000 in funding from the Maria Holder Memorial Trust.
The programme offers mentorship, agricultural training, and entrepreneurial skills to young residents who are wards of the Government Industrial School (GIS).
Under this initiative, 15 students between the ages of 14 and 17 – many of whom have been remanded or committed to GIS – are receiving personalized, one-on-one mentorship from students of The University of the West Indies (UWI). These mentors provide guidance to foster personal growth, resilience, and trust, helping participants navigate challenges and build a more promising future.
Beyond mentorship, the programme introduces the participants to the world of climate-smart farming and renewable energy—fields that are not only crucial for environmental sustainability but also present viable career and business prospects. A small greenhouse has been established at GIS by staff and residents, serving as a training ground for cultivating cash crops. Additionally, participants are being taught to transform their produce into value-added goods such as sauces, seasonings, jams, and jellies, equipping them with hands-on entrepreneurial experience.
This latest intervention builds upon the success of the Promoting Agency, Trust, and Hope among Incarcerated Barbadian Youth Project (2019-2021), which was funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. That project leveraged character-building science to promote personal development among GIS residents, making it the first of its kind in Barbados and potentially the wider Caribbean. While the previous project incorporated a strong research component – examining character strengths, cognitive abilities, and socio-emotional profiles – it is yet to be confirmed whether a similar research framework will be applied to the BLOOMing Youth Programme.
The initiative underscores the importance of evidence-based interventions in youth rehabilitation, particularly for those navigating the challenges of the juvenile justice system. By blending mentorship with practical, future-oriented skills, the BLOOMing Youth Programme is not just offering second chances—it is actively planting the seeds for sustainable change and empowerment among Barbados’ most vulnerable youth.
