CAP programme strengthens youth outreach through key partnerships

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SINCE its inception, the Community Achiever’s Project (CAP) has made significant progress in educating primary school children. And as the project prepares to expand its programme, directors have begun addressing the challenges in order to work closer with the school and church.

CAP Director Victoria Baucom explained that the project, which was originally designed to assist children in reading and small agricultural initiatives, would broaden its scope by focusing more on skills-training and crafts. The project will also seek to intensify the focus given to the subjects taught at the primary level including English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science.
Baucom however noted that there has been a number of challenges which may continue to threaten the future progress if not addressed appropriately.

“Children are affected by a number of social ills including sexual molestation, child abuse and family instability. If we pretend these social cracks do not exist then we will be out for a rude awakening. We have to seek different ways in which we can empower our children and we have to address the problems,” Baucom asserted.

The CAP Director said the lack of Christian morals and interest in education are two of the most difficult hurdles to cross. She stressed that many times when progress is made in the CAP project, it is often reversed by the lacking home and school environments. She also identified stronger partnerships with the school as the ideal avenue through which the issues could be addressed.

 “We want the students to explore ideas and possibilities which would lead them to success but, very often, they don’t get that reinforcement at home. We are not always successful in convincing the parents, because a lot of them leave the decision-making regarding education up to the children,” said Baucom.

The project has recently brought together a number of volunteers to assist the children in reading activities and to generate interest in agriculture, as well as to encourage skills training and crafts. Baucom views the assistance by all beneficiaries as very important.

Local volunteers, including Karencia Taylor, Al-Wali Muhammad, Leeshaw Hutchinson, Beverly Supersaid and Sydney Berkeley, have committed their support to the project; while additional help comes from Angela Liburd, Suukura Bahinda, Benjamin Mitcham and Dr. Jose Lopez. 

Baucom said although the educational project had encounters with parents, who often do not exhibit positive parenting skills, and has been challenged by the social dynamics of the communities from which the students come, “it is not a hopeless situation”.
“The government can’t do everything; it is up to the stakeholders to work together and address the problem. We can do it! This is a small island! There are a lot of problems but with the educated and talented individuals in this country, we can address the problems and make a difference!” she added.

The project is expected to resume after the Test of Standard, and Baucom said the main focus would be to improve the relationship between the project, the relevant schools and the churches to ensure continuity in the work done at CAP. Persons interested in volunteering their service to this project are asked to contact Victoria Baucom at (869) 664 1175.