Nassau, The Bahamas – The Simpson Penn Centre for Boys received $3,000 worth of sporting equipment as part of an educational empowerment initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Embassy. “I loved seeing the teamwork and the passion in these boys. I could see the look of hope in their eyes, which is what you always want to see,” said Nicole Avant, U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas.
“When they are very young, this is the time to bring people back and my message to them was that it’s not where you start in life, it is where you end up in life. It’s great that you have places like Simpson Penn that could help usher young men into being who they are meant to be. You can tell they all really want to do well in life.”
Ambassador Avant and Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Commander of the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) were present at the ceremony held at the Chapel of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys in Fox Hill.
“I have a lot of initiatives and priorities but education is number one because you can candy coat everything, but without a solid education and character building programme it really doesn’t matter. For President Obama, it is extremely important to always reach out to the youth and let them know that they are important and valuable,” said Ambassador Avant.
“I visited Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls for some time over the past year and a half but I had not had an opportunity to be with the young men at Simpson, so it’s a pleasure to be here. It’s important for us to show that we are supporting them in whichever way they need. A lot of times we give books and the materials needed today was possible by US Northern Command.”
USNORTHCOM’s donation included two fold up soccer goals, two table tennis sets, two weight benches, basketball nets and multiple basketballs, soccer balls, and volley balls. “Places like the Simpson Penn Centre are what societies do for their young people to give them a second chance,” said Admiral James Winnefeld, Jr. of USNORTHCOM.
“We believe in what they are doing at the Simpson Penn Centre and we wanted to help. It’s about building sound minds, sound characters and sound bodies, and they do a wonderful job here. For us to have the opportunity to donate some athletic equipment to help with the building of sound bodies and also for the kids to have some fun while they are at it is a great initiative. We are proud and privileged to actually do something like this.”
Representatives from the Bahamas Government included Permanent Secretary Barbara Burrows from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, and Director of Social Services, Ms. Mellany Zonicle.
“We received a donation from the Embassy of the United States comprised of sporting equipment for the residents of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys. We are certainly delighted that the donation will help us expand our sporting programme here at the Centre,” said PS Burrows.
The donation is a part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, which has donated over $20,000 in school supplies, books and sporting equipment to Woodcock Primary School, the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls and the Ministry of Education’s “Read to Lead” programme.
By: Gena Gibbs
BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
