For the past 25 years, the Falcon Boys Club has mentored some 80,000 young men between the ages of 8 -18 on various islands throughout The Bahamas. And for 23 of these years, BTC has partnered with the Club to aid in their mentorship and upliftment. On April 8th ,the Falcon Boys Club held its 19th annual Building Youth is Better than Mending Boys Conference for male students of the Lewis Yard Primary School on Grand Bahama.
The conference was held under the theme, “You are not insignificant”. BTC’s CEO Andre Foster was the special guest speaker. Sharing his personal story of being raised by a single mother, yet still being able to excel in education, Foster told the young boys that despite the circumstances that they may have encountered in life, they are not insignificant.
“Students, the best advice I can give you is to be you,” Foster said. “You are unique. Don’t compare yourself to someone else. You are all perfectly and wonderfully made, and you already have everything in you, that you will need to change the world.”
Foster told boys that there was no such thing as a “free lunch” and if they really want something in life, they had to earn it. “You won’t wake up tomorrow and have everything that you always dreamed of,” Foster advised. “No kids, you have to put in the work, you have to be diligent, and you have to be consistent.”
Foster continued: “Students, in 2022, no one is insignificant. You have a voice, and in this era the world will stop and listen to everything that you have to say. No more do you have to wait to be heard, you are the generation of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and so much more. You are the modern-day story tellers. However, with great power, comes great responsibility. And I encourage you to use your voice wisely. Spread positive messages to empower others and help change the world.”
Foster urged the boys to think about the world that they wanted to see and start working on how they would create it. He also encouraged them to be their brother’s keeper, stick together, stay on the right path, and strive to be everything that a falcon embodies. All boys attending the Conference received a gift bag from BTC which included a phone card. The top 10 students of the Club from the Lewis Yard Primary School were given Samsung phones, and the top student received an iPhone 13.
“I am so grateful that Mr. Foster has come on board to not just be our guest speaker, but to help the Falcon Boys Club to do more than we are able to do to assist the boys,” said Founder and Director of the Falcons Boys Club, Pastor Darrin Rolle. “Mr. Foster did a good job in reminding the men of their significance and BTC played a pivotal role in allowing us to accomplish our mandate.”
The Falcon Boys Club mentors’ male students from September to June of the school year for three days a week. The boys are taught about God and country and are also given the opportunity to learn how to play basketball. The Club also helps young men with scholarships, work experience, college, seminars, and is registered with the Ministry of Youth.
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