It is in your hands
The success of the Give Back initiative is in the hands of the tertiary students, who must promote the programme which encourages volunteerism within the Barbadian community.
Education Minister Santia Bradshaw mentioned this as she addressed a standing-room only crowd of tertiary students at the Roy Marshall Complex during the Launch of the Give Back Initiative on Wednesday.
She added that these students will be tasked with encouraging the next generation of students who come into the tertiary institutions to be a part of the initiative.
Noting that other territories have tried some form of Give Back programme, the Education Minister said that she wanted Barbados to be the most successful. Bradshaw who pointed out that there is an element of volunteerism in the secondary school environment and now in the tertiary institutions, she expressed her hope that a similar initiative could be launched in the primary schools as well.
Students must volunteer
As the Government continues to pay for the tuition fees of Barbadian students, the Give Back programme requires that part-time students give 100 hours while full-time students give 150 hours to volunteering to a local social, governmental or charitable organisation. Students who have received funding from government for their education but opt out of the Give Back programme will be required to repay the government their tuition fees as long as fees have been already paid on their behalf.
Students from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados Community College (BCC) and Erdiston Teacher’s Training College accessing government sponsorship for their tertiary level studies will participate in the programme.
Students can register and sign up to the online application at www.gov.bb/giveback. Presently, volunteers are needed in Business and Entrepreneurship, Youth, Education and Humanitarian Service, Science, Vocation and Technology, Health and Wellness, The Environment and Tourism and the Creative Economy.
The Give Back programme has been envisaged as a national campaign that is wider than education. The aim is to create a national movement for Barbadians to find ways to give back service to their country.
Ministries must work together, Barbadian made App
During her remarks, Minister of Innovation Science and Smart Technology, Senator Kay McConney noted the importance of Ministries working together and said that she is delighted to be a partner is the Give Back venture.
Senator McConney highlighted that the Give Back app was created by Barbadians who attended tertiary institutions in Barbados. During the launch, Minister Bradshaw and Minister McConney signed a certificate of partnership and symbolically handed over The Give Back application.
At Wednesday’s launch, representatives of some of more than 65 approved organisations held exhibits and gave students an opportunity to learn more about their activities. Some of the organisations present in the Roy Marshall Complex courtyard included Business and Professional Women’s Club of Barbados (BPW), The Barbados Museum and Historical Society, Read for Life, At Risk Youth Foundation, The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Union Collaborative.