Working with youths, topic of UWI course

A five-week training program for those who work with young people begins next week at the UWI School of Continuing Studies. According to Brenda Johnson Gabourel, N.C.H.’s Director, the 30 teachers, NGOs, youth and church group leaders who work with children and adolescents on a regular basis will learn about how to keep youths out of trouble.

Brenda Johnson-Gabourel, Director, N.C.H.

“We found out that there are needs for people to be trained to work with young people, NGOs, teachers, youth leaders, church group leaders. N.C.H. decided to continue its program of training.”

Q: “What did you all see taking place that you were not impressed with?”

Brenda Johnson-Gabourel

“Teenagers were getting involved with lots of negative things and nobody seemed to be able to help them or want to help them. So we got people who are willing to help to come out and do this program.

During the five weeks we will be talking about the historical prospective of Belize, the shaping of our nation and the family concept, the Belizean family. What shapes the Belizean family? We will be going into human growth and development and focusing on adolescent development, STDs and AIDS as it pertains to young people. Criminal behavior, again as it pertains to young people. Conventions on the Rights of the Child, the Children Act and basic social work practices and basic counseling.”

Cheryl Holder, the regional training officer for N.C.H. Action for Children is the special consultant for the course. It is sponsored by N.C.H. and UWI School of Continuing Studies and gets underway Monday at 9:00 a.m.