Young people from the Boys Training Centre (BTC) and, for the first time, the New Beginnings Transit Home, two institutions under the purview of the Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons, have been equipped with much needed practical knowledge to make safer choices around drugs, smoking, vaping and online activity.

The two-day programme, hosted through a partnership between the BTC and Amy’s Gift to Saint Lucia, focused on drug awareness, responsible internet use and online safety. Participants were guided on how to recognize risks, protect their personal information and exercise greater caution in their daily lives, particularly when using social media and other online platforms.

The participation of the New Beginnings Transit Home expanded the reach of the initiative, bringing together young people from two agencies that support vulnerable youth.

Boys Training Centre Manager Leanna Wallace said the partnership is important to ensuring that prevention and awareness initiatives reach more young people.

“On behalf of the management and staff, my Assistant Manager, and, of course, our boys, we want to thank the Foundation for continuing to partner with us. This year, we extended our invitation to our sister agency, the New Beginnings Transit Home. We believe that we cannot achieve anything alone; no man is an island,” stated Wallace.

The interactive sessions combined awareness with practical guidance, allowing participants to demonstrate their understanding of online safety, including protecting personal information and exercising caution on social media.

An official from Amy’s Gift to Saint Lucia commended participants for their engagement and willingness to apply what they had learned.

“You have all accomplished something truly remarkable over the past two days by embracing and remembering what you were taught, what you saw and what you experienced. The facilitators have also done a wonderful job,” the representative noted.

The initiative underscored the importance of sustained partnerships in providing vulnerable young people with the knowledge, confidence and life skills to recognize risks, make informed decisions and encourage safer choices among their peers.