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Our society is torn between the lure of good and bad, righteous and unholy, and the youth are no different. Often they find themselves torn between the same irresistible forces as many of us do, without any of the training and less developed decision making compared to adults.
During the past week I was privy to two events that celebrated the positives of the youth and their potential for brilliance, the National Science Fair, held at Vigie,and the Inter District Sports Meet held at Darren Sammy Grounds at Beauséjour.
The former event was a celebration of academic and scientific achievement from infant to post-secondary minds. And environmental science, food science, science and technology and innovations (aimed at making life easier) as the spheres of Science dominating the projects on display.
The all male team from Dennery Primary with their generator project called Azul as well as an eco friendly chicken coop was one of the standouts of the presentations that I came across. The quite articulate team representing Anse La Raye Primary and their all- natural Neem fertilizer as well as Vide Bouteille’s eloquent explanation of their Eco Lift load carrying machine.
The previous projects illustrated that the youth were a font of knowledge and curiosity. Their genuine eagerness to share their experiences with their peers and others as to the ins and outs of their scientific experiences was a pure delight as eyes lit up and voices sharpened.
Plaudits need to be given to schools like Dame Pearlette, Belle Vue Combined, Fond St Jacques Primary and Augier Combined which have now become stalwarts of the fair over the course of time since I have been keenly observing the fair. Additionally Ciceron Secondary, Micoud Secondary, Soufriere Comprehensive and VFCSS A Level were winners in the secondary level whilst Aux Lyons Combined and Ciceron R.C Combined were of course deserving winners in Science and Technology and at the infant levels.
Of course I will admit bias to the team which won the 1st place in the Environmental Science category with Birds of Bouton, Bouton R.C Combined which catalogued a near comprehensive survey of all the birds within the Bouton ecosystem, a testament to the hard work and effort shown by the students in remedying their 3rd place win last year.
However, I must be quite frank in admitting my dismay at the prizes awarded to participants. Greater sponsorship of the Science Fair is needed, chromebooks, smartwatches, tablets, VR Goggles and other breakthroughs in technology should be the norm for each school who place in a category alongside scientific material such as books, chemistry sets and the like to encourage further scientific breakthrough.
The other unique event I attended, where again my bias was shown, wearing the black and red of District 8, was at the Inter District Sports meet at DSG in Beausejour. The thrill of the event which saw student-athletes display the best of their ability on the grass track was an exhilarating experience.
The camaraderie and teamwork.
The victory and agony of defeat.
The lead changes and roars of the crowd and those fun but annoying vuvuzela horns.The irony that despite bringing the event to the north it was still vastly under attended by schools in the north, in fact a half hour before the event was slated to begin schools from Soufriere and Vieux Fort was the only visible crowd yet spoke volumes.
The event was dominated by the south western schools, District 6, 8 and 5 respectively.For me it was bittersweet, after 2 years of jumping up in the Soufriere stands we came 2nd this year.
What went wrong?
Was it the hyperbolic arrogance of declaring a 3peat?
Was it that line in that prayer? ( Persons present know what I’m talking about).
Perhaps our time in the sun was just over and instead of focusing on the defeat we should examine the way forward and how to recapture our crown, in bigger and bolder fashion.
But this isn’t a story just about me or about District 8 but about the youth’s ability to become masters of their own fate and how the potential for them to be examples and role models for others lie within their hands.