The creativity of the nation's secondary school students stood out at the 11th year of the RBTT (Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago) Young Leaders Programme in Grenada held last week Wednesday at the National Sporting Stadium at Queen's Park.
The 629 students and 55 students from 17 of the secondary schools were commended during the National Awards Ceremony for the extra effort that they put into the programme that was based on the theme, "Building the Gap...
Building Relationships for a Better Tomorrow."
Business Development Officer at RBTT Bank Grenada Limited, Elizabeth Henriques said the theme allowed the students the opportunity to creatively explore, discover and thoroughly document the elements necessary to bridge the widening gaps in society.
According to Henriques, the young leaders addressed the critical issues such as the growing lack of respect for authority, low self-esteem, and lack of sound moral values.
"The 2008 RBTT Young Leaders were innovated, resourceful and systematic in their research. Some of their concepts were original and the execution of it, credible and accurate", she told the gathering.
"Their methodology stood out in the documentation produced, and some included a level of sustainability which should have wide-ranging impacts across many communities," Henriques said.
The projects included the production of music/video Compact Discs to highlight their areas of concern. The RBTT official said that her bank's commitment to mold and develop young minds and to steer the region's youth in a positive direction is one of the ways in which they give back to the communities they serve, and the communities that serve them.
The Grenada Boys Secondary School was the ultimate winner with their project, "Linking the past with the future and connecting the conscious." The Anglican High School received the award of distinction and took away $5,000.00 and a trophy.
Each student of the school received a book voucher worth $100.00 and a Certificate of Distinction while the co-ordinating teachers received a cash award and a Certificate of Recognition.
Out of 17 projects submitted, the award of excellence went to the St. Joseph's Convent, St. George's which earned the right to receive $3,000.00 and a trophy.
Each student received a book voucher worth $75.00 and a Certificate of Excellence. The co-ordinating teachers also received a cash award and a Certificate of Recognition.
The award of merit went to the Happy Hill Secondary School which received $2,000.00 and a trophy.
Each student received a book voucher worth $50.00, and a Certificate of Merit, while the co-ordinating teachers received a cash award and a Certificate of Recognition like the other two schools.
The most outstanding 2008 RBTT Young Leader was Rehan St. Bernard from St. Joseph's Convent, St. George's.
Head Judge, Desmond La Touche said there is a fountain of hope for the future of Grenada and the Caribbean region since, according to him, there is a wealth of potential leadership skills among the young people.
"We the judges have been saddled by the quality and the diversity in the interpretation of the theme, the creativity and the relevance that accompanied those interpretations," he said.
La Touche said the panel of judges which included Franka Bernadine, and Margaret Payne are of the opinion that this year's theme brought to light creative discoveries, indepth systematic research, innovative and resourcefulness, a degree of accuracy, thoroughness and attraction in the documentation and presentation. He said this speaks well for the future of the programme and the young people.
The RBTT Young Leaders Programme was launched in Trinidad and Tobago 26 years ago, and is now functioning in five Eastern Caribbean Countries, including Grenada, where the bank is operating.
The awards ceremony was flavoured with a motivational address by Errol Romain who is living with HIV and AIDS.
The proceedings were also spiced up with some cultural presentations by a number of schools in the form of a poem, dances and songs.
