Rotary to send Fredericks and Hazel to RYLA Conference

Shaquille Fredericks and Tishanna Hazel will represent St. Kitts and Nevis at 2012 RYLA conference. Photo courtesy Pierre Liburd – Department of Youth Empowerment.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 18, 2012 (SKNIS): Shaquille Fredericks and Tishanna Hazel will join youth from across the Region to discuss current issues affecting young people and how creative young minds can be empowered to become ethical leaders and agents of change through self-respect and compassion.

The duo was selected from among a diverse group of young people to represent the Federation at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference to be held January 26to 28, 2012 at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort, Grenada.

Fredericks was sponsored by Rotary St. Kitts. The organization’s secretary Patricia Mourillon told SKNIS that Shaquille is a “very committed and humble person” who continues to serve the community through volunteerism. Similarly, Rotary Liamuigua’s Director, Carol Phillip, stated that Hazel’s selection as their nominee was based on her commitment to better the lives of her peers and others in society.

The theme for the 2012 conference is Our Youth … Today, Tomorrow and Beyond.

Sessions will cover financial matters, self identification, our community and its influences, conflict resolution, crime and young people, music and fashion and the effects on young people, technology, as well as ecology and the environment.

Tishanna said she was “honoured to be selected to attend such a distinguished conference” while Shaquille enthused about the opportunity to network with persons from neighbouring islands. Both are expected to share what they learn with Rotary members and other youth upon their return.

Participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Suriname, Tortola, and Trinidad and Tobago are expected to attend the meeting.

Hazel (Citizenship) and Fredericks (Community Service) were recognized as two of the 25 Most Remarkable Teens in St. Kitts, last November. The recognition programme was implemented by the Department of Youth Empowerment in collaboration with the United States Peace Corps. The Department plans to partner with the local Rotary Clubs in implementing the new Youth Volunteer Corps in its inaugural project scheduled for March 2012.

The RYLA programme started in Brisbane, Australia in 1961. It is a Rotary International programme that facilitates intensive training for youth and young adults ages 14 to 30 years old.