The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

STEERING the lives of young people in the right direction is at the core of a mentoring program recently launched.
The Winner’s Touch mentoring and life coach program was started by Pastor Dave Burrows of Bahamas Faith Ministries.

The programme is designed to mentor and coach youth and young adults on the road to successful life and career choices.
The programme was launched with the assistance of the United States Embassy’s community grants award. The programme will focus on career development, character building and spiritual development. It consists of an initial assessment after which an individual programme is developed for each young person to assist in meeting their goals.

It also involves both individual and group instruction, Pastor Burrows said.
“We know what they want and we let them know what it takes to get to that point,” he said.

The need for guidance for young people is reason for starting the mentoring programme. Pastor Burrows said there are many young people in the Bahamas who have no guidance from parents or guardians. The programme will fill those voids in the lives of young people.

“I have been working with a lot young people and I realised that many of them have no guidance. Parents are not around to offer support And some of the young people do not like talking to their parents.
With the proliferation of violence in our society it is obvious that they need help and guidance. This is the reason why we believe this programme will have a major impact. It will help them make proper decisions where their futures are concerned,” he told Tribune Religion.

Pastor Dave Burrows was the recipient of the US Embassy’s State Alumini Outreach Small Grants Program last year. The goal of the small grants programme is to foster youth leadership development through supporting community-based projects.
In conjunction with the launch of the Winners Touch programme, the Youth and Family Centre, which serves as the headquarters for “Winners Touch” and the Simpson Penn Mentoring programme also opened.

The centre houses a computer lab, small conference room for meetings, seminars and counseling and a powerpoint learning center allowing for interactive learning.
Plans are also underway to house a school suspension programme, and a parenting and family life programme at the center.