| YMCA HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL LEADERS FOR YOUTH CONFERENCE 
We had a wonderful time at the 3rd annual Leaders for Youth Conference . 130 YMCA leaders, volunteers and parents gathered together over two days from 12-13 January to learn from each other and grow as leaders working with our youth. The conference theme this year was "The Power of Perspective", focusing on how leaders can benefit from approaching challenges facing our youth from various perspectives, especially from the eyes of the youth themselves. W orkshops featured expert local presenters, as well as international YMCA partner trainers. For the first time, the Y conference also welcomed YMCA staff participants from across the Caribbean, namely Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago . Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Chief Officer Christen Suckoo expressed his thoughts on this year's theme, "The power of perspective is a timely one. We live in an age when understanding, accepting and respecting each other's perspective is giving way to pride and a stubborn stopping up of the ears. This is no less true in Cayman than it is elsewhere, and no less important to understand, than within the context of reaching, and positively influencing our children and youth. We can't help them if we can't build a bridge of respect. We can't build bridges if we don't listen, and we can't hear them if we don't understand and respect their perspectives." Mr. Suckoo congratulated the Y on its continual focus on training leaders and the pursuit of excellence in serving our youth. All the staff and volunteers are looking forward to putting the valuable information learned into practice as the Y continues to serve the Cayman community.  |
