Members of the St. Maarten Youth Brigade (SMYB) look smart in their uniforms with the newly purchased bus thanks to a grant from the Resources for Community Resilience R4CR programme (see related story). The paramilitary organisation managed by Voice of the Youth (VOTY) recently held its 10th rank-promotion ceremony.
Their aim is to instil discipline, leadership qualities and ordinary life skills in youngsters ages 12-21, but also to provide holistic educational subjects that focus on good health and well-being, reduced inequalities, climate action and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Many may not realise it, but for a decade now initiators and others involved have been doing society a huge service by keeping an unknown number of potentially at-risk cases on the right path and off the streets. They are currently looking for recruits as well as volunteer mentors and coaches, the latter preferably with a military or law enforcement background.
The already-existing cooperation with the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM, the Volunteer Corps St. Maarten VKS, the Dutch Marines, the Fire Department and the Coast Guard was mentioned by Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS) Rodolphe Samuel in a congratulatory message.
Apart from R4CR, which is financed by the Netherlands via the Trust Fund, the foundation is financially supported by St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), ECYS and “Samenwerkende Fondsen” (Cooperating Funds) Caribbean.
Acknowledgements to all who made reaching this significant milestone possible are well-deserved. It is a shinning local example of effective community involvement.
