Child Month service calls for community support

| 09/05/2019
CNS Local Life
(L-R) DCFS Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams, Child Month awardee Julius Smith, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Child Month awardee Tiann Scott and residential care supervisor Thelma Richards

(CNS Local Life): This year’s Child Month awardees, Tiann Scott and Julius Smith, were announced during the Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Child Month Church Service at First Baptist Church, Sunday, 5 May. Tiann, 11, was honoured as an outstanding scholar, artist and all-star communicator. Julius, 16, was recognised for his educational, athletic and social accomplishments.

Lighthouse School student Tiann’s character and willingness to succeed were said to exemplify this year’s Child Month theme: “Be Strong! Be Brave! Be You!” Julius, a former Lighthouse student, is studying at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre and is a two-time Special Olympian and multi-medal winner at the Games. His confidence and positive attitude earned him a “Proud of Them” award last year and has been pivotal in him embracing the Toastmaster’s Eloquent Speakers Leadership programme and other roles, a press release said.

Acting Minister for Community Affairs Austin Harris spoke on behalf of Premier Alden McLaughlin at the service. “Our children are our future and it is the way we treat them now that will determine not only who they will be but also what our country will look like in the future,” he said. 

He added that parenting meant being fully present in their children’s lives. “I recently read a report that reveals there are only 940 Saturdays between a child’s birth and them leaving for college…Think of all the time your child spends in day care, at school… and other activities that don’t include you. The hours, days and years add up. So I implore you to make a concerted effort to find quality time to spend with your child or children.”

DCFS Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams said that the observance’s theme encourages the community to create the right environment to sustain children and youth. “As responsible adults, it is our job to plant the seeds of success for our children and be consistent in caring and cultivating the soil that will produce strong and confident people,” she said.

“Our children’s voices must be heard, allow them to chart their own course with guidance and support that will propel them to live constructive and purposeful lives.”

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Category: Community, Local News

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  1. Anonymous says:

    So much support from community! Not! What a shame.