BASSETERRE St. Kitts, July 4th 2011 - As usual a busy quarter for Operation Future, we continue with our school and community presentations. Speaking out whenever and where ever we can in our goal of greater achievement for every child.
To follow up on the information from last quarters newsletter the "Cool Calvin'S No Bandanas for Me" were distributed to every school in the Federation through the School Students Counsels, 3 copies to each primary school and a single copy to each secondary school.
Operation Future believes children should be awarded for their accomplishments as such:
On April 13th Operation Future was asked to participate in a workshop hosted for all the Student Counsels in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis;
Dan addressed the issue of "Improving Discipline at Your School - Identifying and Reporting Indiscipline".
Operation Future used the opportunity to suggest to the student counsels that they consider a "Lets End the Mayhem Campaign" in their schools and to initiate the program Operation Future suggested a Mother's Day Initiative
It was suggested that the student counsel, as leaders of the student body, may want to promote a gang free life and have students complete Mother's Day Cards decorated with their own art and complete a pledge to stay gang free for life.
The initiative was a tremendous success, Operation Future at the requests of the student counsels, delivered over 6500 cards to be completed by students and delivered to their mothers. Although this initiative is symbolic we are sure the reaction students noticed from their mother's on presentation of the cards will give students reason to think of the impact of getting involved in the gang life has on those around them.
Operation Future's motto is Greater Achievement for Every Child, Operation Future lives this motto in its own work and trying to assist other organizations who share a goal of assisting the youth of our Federation.
Ms. Elizabeth Smith of Café Des Art also shares a desire to assist the youth of our Federation and on April 23rd Operation Future teamed up with Café Des Art and launched a huge jumbo sale with the goal of donating the proceeds to Operation Future and the Special Olympics, the sale was a tremendous success as a result of a month of hard work by Elizabeth and Operation Future?s own Joann MaMullin. The generosity of the many people who donated items to be sold to benefit these worthy causes is greatly appreciated. Also appreciated was the support of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society.
On May 3, 2011 Café Des Art and Operation Future donated $3,000 EC dollars to the Special Olympics moving our athletes one step closure to fulfilling a dream of competing in Greece in July of 2011.
With the assistance of N.H.C.S. Operation Future will continue monthly jumbo sales for the benefit of N.H.C.S., Operation Future and other charities.
Please keep in touch with our work through our website www.sknoperationfuture.com
On May 13th Operation Future's Dan was the keynote speaker at a three day conference, Questioning Justice in Interdisciplinary Times, at the University of Winnipeg, Canada. Dan spoke about Operation Future's holistic approach to addressing youth, crime and violence with a focus on community participation and early intervention.
The response to Operation Future's approach was enthusiastic as participants acknowledged that the issues surrounding youth, crime and violence are social issues and must be addressed from a community stand point, focusing only on reactive, enforcement approaches fails to address the root cause and risks further alienation of marginalized youth and communities that could potentially aggravate the problem.
A great deal of information was distributed through a multitude of panels over the three day conference and Operation Future hopes to utilize some of the information in addressing our issues in the Federation.
There is no question that the youth of the Federation seems to be fascinated by American Culture, unfortunately, they seem to be adopting the negative aspects of the culture which is materializing in many of the problems that we are facing. Operation Future has decided to try and capitalize on this fascination and introduce a positive aspect of American Culture, baseball and softball. Both are excellent sports, like many sports, teach many positive values necessary to achieve success and become positive members of the community. Furthermore, it offers one more activity to occupy our youth and help them steer away from idleness and the problems associated with youth and too much time on their hands.
We began this initiative in Winnipeg, Canada and through the assistance of people who support Operation Future's holistic approach and focus on early intervention we were able to gather 2 complete sets of equipment. This allows us to have sufficient equipment to establish a national wide league with equipment for players in Nevis and in St Kitts. As such we can introduce the sport at no cost to the children or their families as long as they do not mind sharing the equipment.
The objective is to establish two leagues
1. Operation Future's National Minor League. In this league the game will be the more aggressive hardball played in the professional ranks in America. The initial league will target youth in the 9 to 12 years of age, and the league will be coed. The goal initially will be four teams in St Kitts and three in Nevis. Teams will be associated to communities as opposed to schools with the goal of building community spirit.
There will be modifications to professional rules to make the game more age friendly and fun.
2. Operation Future's Family Fun League In this league we will also initially be targeting the same age group, 9 to 12 years, the difference will be each player will also have a parent or guardian playing on the team. The game will be the more laid back slow pitch softball game and will have the primary goal of quality child/parent time with the objective of fun for all including the community who will be encouraged to come out and watch.
Please keep in touch with our work through our website www.sknoperationfuture.com We have the equipment, we have the desire, but we need some assistance, particularly coaches.
Experience and knowledge of the game is not necessary the primary qualification needed is a desire to work with children and have some fun. We will have a few coaching clinics to teach fundamentals and games which will profile the basics of the game.
If interested please contact one of the following members of Operation Future:
Lauston - l.percival@hotmail.com
Dan - dmacmullin@ifgnevis.com
Magicman - caquow@hotmail.com
Myrtle - nickytwoshy@msn.com
Nikki - dynamicn2@hotmail.com
Unfortunately, as busy as we were the problems continue, at no time more evident than the last couple of weeks of June. Gang warfare continues and if intervention does not take place to address the gang issue our youth will continue to die and the impact on our nation both economically and in our quality of life will be staggering. This is an area where the Federation needs assistance, while in Canada in June Operation Future's member Dan MacMullin canvassed programs in two cities known for gang activity, Winnipeg and Regina, both can be considered the birth place of gangs in Canada.
There are several similarities between the aboriginal youth gangs in Canada and what is taking place in the Federation.
Two programs showed significant impact, in Regina, the Regina Anti-Gang Services (R.A.G.S.), this program is a direct gang/wannabe intervention program. It works in close coordination with the courts, Regina Police Services Gang Unit and numerous other private and public partners.
The COLORS life?s skill program at RAGS has some pretty impressive statistics, early statistics show 34 gang members, now ex gang members went through, out of this 5 are now registered in University, 8 have returned to school, 12 have full time jobs with 2 out of the 12 working in unsupervised positions, 3 have continued on in other employment programs in the city and 2 became fulltime staff members within the RAGS program. Not a bad track record.
On the streets, where it counts, they are seeing a reduction of 60% in membership in on of Regina's most notorious gangs.
In Winnipeg the Just TV program is a program utilizing audio and visual arts in combination with life skills training is reaching "at risk" youth moving them away from negative life choices into positive.
Both programs offered to partner with Operation Future and have a desire to assist. Operation Future would like to structure a regional conference in the Federation featuring 8 facilitators from R.A.G.S., Just TV, Regina Police Services Gang Unit, a Judge from the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan and gang desistance expert from Winnipeg. All have volunteered their time if airfare and accommodations can be arranged. Airfare the initial obstacle would be approximate $12000 Usd.
If interested in assisting please contact Dan at dmacmullin@ifgnevis.com or 662 9888
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