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FamilyV A L U E S

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YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values EdItor's LEttEr The Importance Of Family Values l 3

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY VALUESA blessed and prosperous 2015 to all our readers.

The family is an essential mechanism through which important societal val-ues are taught to young children. Positive learned behaviour is transferred from parent or guardian to a child - values such as respect for others and the importance of obeying the law. The family must also provide enduring love and acceptance, regardless of life circumstances. These values enable children to function productively in the wider society during adulthood. The breakdown of the family is directly linked to negative personal and societal consequences.

Research shows that after separation or divorce, a child’s psychological and physical health can suffer. According to American sociologist, Paul Amato, children become less adept at reading and math as well as with their inter-personal skills and self-control. Others need more medical treatment, be-come sexually active and have unplanned children. Some become depressed or violent or turn to experimenting with illegal drugs, or develop eating dis-orders. Trinidadian psychologist, Anna Maria Mora, spoke about the break-down of the value system in Trinidadian families. She urged that our children must be taught their purpose in life and how to make the right choices. In

closing, I would like to say a short prayer for our Trinbagonian families.Dear Almighty Father, please bless our families. Enable us to be strong par-ents for our children. Teach us how to teach them. Give us the ability to hug them and love them, even when we are tired; Give us the ability to instil in them all the essential family values, including faith; So that they may lead

productive and happy lives.Amen.Warmly,

Rhonda KangaleeYVM EDITOR

E D I T OR

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4 l Family Values CoNtrIbutors YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values tAbLE of CoNtENts l 5

6 l Family Values tHE fAMILY YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

R E N E E L E G E N D R E

Family is the cornerstone of society. Life usually begins within the realm of the

family. Children are socialized and influenced by their families. They rely on each other for physical, emotional and financial support. They usually feel connected by strong emotional bonds. Family is necessary for the functioning of society. Although, there are many types of families and family members don’t always get along, being a member of a loving family is a privilege. It provides security and comfort for its members and defence against the hazards of trying to survive the trials of daily life on one’s own. There are instances where families that do not provide these beneficial elements to its members. This can result in family members suffering from depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, bullying in schools, as

well as other social problems which may lead to drug abuse, unplanned pregnancies, violence, just to name a few. However, being a member of a dysfunctional family is not guaranteed to produce such effects. It is possible to become empowered and overcome the hurdles and limitations faced in a problematic family situation. It is important however, to avoid continuing the cycle of dysfunction in one’s family if you were raised under harsh circumstances. Become aware of the factors that contributed to the dysfunction in your childhood family, and make suitable and practical changes to ensure they are not repeated in your own family, for the benefit of your children, your spouse and yourself. Adversely, you may not have been raised in a dysfunctional family, but your spouse may have been, and he or she may behave in ways that reflect their upbringing.

This can have negative effects on you and your children. This issue should be addressed as soon as possible. If you feel that it is a problem that you are unable to address on your own, seeking advice from family members, or professionally is a good idea, and nothing to be ashamed of. It is in the best interest of your family. If you are in a dysfunctional family and you are the offspring and not one of the parents, and you feel like you need a helping hand for yourself and your family members, seeking advice is also a good idea. If you are a student, there may be guidance counsellors in your school, or if you are employed, there may be an employee programme to assist. There are ways to get support. The family is the most important institution in our society and we all should do our best to preserve it, nurture it and enjoy it, for all of our benefits.

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values fAMILY VALuEs WITH SUNNY BLING l 7

SUNNYBling

Family...where life begins...and love never fails.

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8 l Family Values tHE YouNG boY WHo HAd No VALuE YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

THE Young Boy

WHO HAD NO VALUE

R H O N D A K A N G A L E E

It had been a busy Christmas season in Trinidad and Tobago. School was closed and Jaxon, an

only child, roamed about the village, trying to find something fun to do. Early one morning, he had bread and butter for breakfast and watched as his mother got ready for work. “Stay out of trouble, Jaxon,” she said as she hurried out.

Jaxon went to the hardware in the village and asked if there was any work for him to do for the Christmas vacation, but they

did not want to hire a thirteen year old boy. Jaxon then visited the Variety Store, but they didn’t need any new employees. He tried scouting around for someone’s yard to clean, but he had no tools. He checked some neighbours to see if they needed any painting done, but people were doing the work themselves, or hiring contractors. His grandmother lived in the next town but he didn’t want to visit her because he disliked how she looked with no teeth, and his dad lived in

another country. Jaxon spent some time looking

to see if any school friends from the neighbourhood wanted to play football, but nobody seemed to be around. Eventually, Jaxon returned home and had a late lunch of pelau on his first day of the holidays. He was so bored. He did not have any video games yet, his mother had promised to buy him some for Christmas. When Jaxon’s mother returned from work, it was already getting dark outside. Jaxon

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values tHE YouNG boY WHo HAd No VALuE l 9

WHO HAD NO VALUE

R H O N D A K A N G A L E E

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asked her if they could put up the Christmas tree, but she was too tired and stressed out from work. She was a bit grumpy and didn’t have the energy to spend time with him. Many of the vacation days ended up being just like that first day and Jaxon began to feel that he was just a ‘nobody’. He had no value. No one had any time for him.

One day he put up the Christmas tree, but it was so much less fun doing it by himself. He hoped that next Christmas would be a lot better, but he did not believe so. However, he had noticed that there were some older men at the savannah, playing some card games. Jaxon thought that he would go and see if they would let him play too. That was better than being at home alone.

A value is something that has worth. Families are the starting point where values are taught to young children. Some of the important values that parents

and guardians bring to young people are a sense of belonging; respect for others and themselves; honesty and responsibility; faith and generosity. Family values are passed down from generation to generation and are deeply instilled into a person’s beliefs and their way of thinking. Additionally, at Christmastime, traditional activities include decorating a tree, making sorrel, wrapping presents, making pastelles, cleaning the yard, baking fruit cake and going to church. Many families engage in these activities together and this inspires a sense of warmth and togetherness. If young children are feeling emptiness within themselves they will look for a way to escape that feeling. Unfortunately, they sometimes end up with the wrong crowd and are taught a different set of standards.

The pie chart below shows the various ways that young persons fill their time when they are not involved in something constructive.

So, for the new year, 2015 and in the coming years, let us Trinbagonians make a greater effort to teach our children all the wonderful family values that exist and make them feel important and most of all, loved.

The Ministry of Justice

http://www.justice.gov.tt/keep-informed/policy-initiatives/youth-justice/

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YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values fAMILY VALuEs with Nadia Batson l 11

FamilyVALUES WITH

Nadia Batson

"I believe that the instillation of the most positive characteristics of a person begins at home, and so, the value we place on the importance of family should be insurmountable. Family values and virtues can undoubtedly affect the status of a society. We should always place a great amount of energy behind applying positive family values. "

T H E S C H O O L B O O K S S P E C I A L I S TFOR GENERAL MECHANDISE

SCHOOL BOOKS

UNIFORMS

STATIONERY

SHOES

& MORE!

FIND US AT THESE LOCATIONS:

24 Eastern Main Road, San JuanPhone: (868) 675-9023

53 Eastern Main Road, TunapunaPhone: 663-1884

Trincity Mall, TrincityPhone: 640-3155

CHECK US OUT:http://charranstt.com

12 l Family Values tHE CHANGING fAMILY VALuE YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

T H E C H A N G I N G

Family valueFRANCIS FELICIAN

When I was first given the topic “family values,” my mind immediately

transformed into a time machine, taking my thoughts to long forgotten places. I found myself in a dimension where solace was replaced with bewilderment.

After being confused for a considerable amount of time, I turned to my colleagues to find some resolve to my literary dilemma. When I posed the question, I realized that it was one where no definite answer was forthcoming. Further research, analysis, and introspection made it quite clear that family values had to be more important than previously thought. I am now aware that even though the age old term is yet to be properly defined, it inadvertently can be

held accountable for every bit of history that is or will ever exist. Moreover, its influence is easily recognizable in society, with its illogicalities and characteristic differences being as varied as the spectrum of human behaviour provides. Constant is the evolution of the value system and believe it or not my beliefs have an impact on what the term would mean. What a shocking reality! Yes it is an amalgam of individual change; completely dependent on beliefs, understanding, and interpretation.

Consequently it alters each and every stage of our development, our landscape, and governance worldwide. To me, it is the most important factor of our foundation as a people; the blueprint that would illustrate and map out our future path. Value components

are subsumed recombinants that determine our future. Like the true definition of “quality, “family values” are indeed “fit for purpose”. Remembering that familial, societal and environmental factors just to name a few, individually shape our minds and jointly create a new “hybrid value.”

Increasingly, technology drives value changes, with globalization catalyzing the family value hybrid reaction. I think that in this regard, the adage “it takes a village to raise a child” applies, with a twist. Our villages are not what they used to be thirty years ago. Frighteningly there is now one village with a population of over seven billion people. The proliferation of devices exposes us to the cultures and practices the world over, without having to leave our living rooms.

FRANCIS FELICIAN

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values tHE CHANGING fAMILY VALuE l 13

It was definitely a profound statement when Pope John Paul II iterated “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” What we should also be conscious of is the fact that “family” represents not only those that are similar genetically, but groups, organizations and sects that contribute to our acceptance of a myriad of beliefs, morals, and actions. In tandem, we as youth are pressured to conform to this new model that continually erodes and in some cases replace individual identity. Sadly, depression grows as one struggles to remain “normal,” creating a people increasingly afflicted with mental illness. However, special mention should be made of those that make positive contributions to society.

Philosophers Plato and Descartes pointed out the influence of nature and nurture in child development. The extent to which these influence or promote a particular behaviour is still unknown. However, comparative studies have pointed to the decline of “family values” over time. It then brings us to the question “what are the rudiments of a “quintessential citizen” and how can we inculcate them in our children? What we learnt from our forefathers and what we choose to accept or delete is an individual decision. It becomes imperative to challenge ourselves and our peers to create a society where comradery reigns. It now becomes mandatory to me, to you, and our heirs what we choose to accept as suitable. Individually, we are responsible for actions that

result from the values we choose to make our own. Which ones are you willing to keep, accept, and pass on to future generations?“In every conceivable manner the family is link to our past, bridge to our future” – Alex Haley

14 l Family Values fAMILY VALuEs with Rayad Emrit YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

RayadEMRIT

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values fAMILY VALuEs with Rayad Emrit l 15

Newly appointed Captain of Trinidad and Tobago Senior National Cricket team,

Rayad Ryan Emrit, is a phenomenal all-rounder that has great success, both in Batting and bowling, not just for Trinidad and Tobago but also West Indies Senior Cricket team, Barbados Tridents and the Indian Premier league. He said his love for cricket began at the tender age of nine years because his father played a critical part in his career and had a wind ball cricket team in the community which flamed the fire for him to pursue cricket at a professional level. When asked what made him successful today, he said his faith in God and the pursuit of his happiness for the love of cricket, which he made a lot of sacrifices to ensure he give his very best at all time to become successful today.

Rayad also said his family values of unity, sacrifices, eat little live long, support, guidance and assistance also played a critical role in his success today although he admitted his Mother didn't really supported his passion in the beginning because financially pursuing a cricket profession was not really advisable. She eventually supported him fully as he showed his determination to become very successful in the cricket profession both by achievements and financially. Rayad define a family as unity and believes that this is an important family value that is lacking in the homes and communities. He said we no longer are our brothers keepers, we no longer inspire, motivate, educate and empower one another in families and communities about family values by having

policies, programs, school visits etc by the government ministries, religious bodies, communities, parents and role models to truly demonstrate especially to the youths the importance of family values. Rayad strongly believes '' it takes a village to raise a child'' and that the community, religious bodies and government plays a vital role in implementing and enforcing family values.

'My youth group when I was younger use to go out to the community and educate and support people on family values, but I don't see that happening again where youths and organizations go out and educate and empower people about. I no longer see community centers making the difference. To me a lack of family values plays a big part in the increase in drugs, crime, broken homes etc'' stated Rayad. Emrit went on to say we need to bring back family values such as; unity, sacrifices, being our brothers keeper, love, peace, humility. Role Models must also pearn to give back to the communties and take up the responsiblity of educating and empowering others about family values.

Rayad as humble as he is, many people might not know, that he visits many schools upon request and have numerous discussions about family values all the time. As a role model, he also supports other inspiring young cricketers by giving them cricket equipment's and moral support. Emrit also give clothes and finances to people and organizations in need."

One of Emrit's passion and

heart beat is to develop or fully support a long term program that can educate and empower children from as young as primary and secondary schools about family values. He doesn't just wants them to believe family values should only apply in the household, but also in schools, communities, in the work place, and everywhere. Where at an early age they would fully understand, appreciate and know how to be each others brothers keepers. ''Its never a I thing, it's always about unity and a family vibes just like what happens with my cricket family, where we are all our brothers keepers, pushing each other to achieve our fullest potential. It was also the same mindset that I had when I was in school.'' said the Captain.

His final message for the youths and the nation on family values was; '' Stay humble, respect your elders in the community,pray to the Almighty because he is the only one that can truly help us, eat little live long and I always pray for the country to become a better place. For the young people, education is the key, stay in school, stay focus, humble, always have positive and supportive people around, you achieve your goals and never ever give up on you. If you want or already pursuing the discipline of sports, go for it because it would take you places you never even dream of going and accomplishing.''

INTERVIEW BY: LAUREN JOSEPH

EMRIT

18 l Family Values fAMILY VALuEs with Rayad Emrit YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only – and that is to support the ultimate

career. ”

C.S Lewis

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values fAMILY VALuEs with Rayad Emrit l 19

“I

sustain myself with the love of family.”

Maya Angelou

20 l Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NkRUmaH PaTRIck YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

FOR THE LOVE

TENNISof

NKRUMAH KWAME PATRICK

HEALTHYL I F E S T Y L E

WITH

BY: RHONDA KANGALEE

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NkRUmaH PaTRIck l 21

of

Nkrumah Kwame Patrick, named after an African leader, is a 17-year old young man who attends Trinity College, Moka, Maraval. He is a form 5 student, studying a diverse range of subjects. His goal is to attend a foreign university to pursue studies in Sports Management or Business Management. French is one of the subjects on his syllabus and one of his favourite things to say in French is: “J’adore le tennis.” I love tennis.

Kwame lives with his mother, Allison; his two sisters, Abiola and Nandee; his grandmother, Daphne Joseph, and his dad, Michael Patrick. Kwame’s dad used to play and coach basketball and wanted his son to play that game, but understands and supports Kwame’s tennis pursuits. Kwame says that his dad is his best friend. When Kwame was three years old, his uncle and coach, Dave Patrick, introduced him to tennis…this is when Kwame held his first tennis racket. He actually started playing tennis at the tender age of 5.

These days Kwame has a strict schedule. On Mondays and Wednesdays he goes to school lessons, Tuesdays and Thursdays he has workouts with his physical trainer, Shawn Leonce and Thursday to Sunday he has tennis practice with two coaches. He has a rigorous routine which includes a lot of running, drills, always having to be on your toes, with volleys and split-step practices. At a short practise session, one Saturday afternoon, I heard Coach Patrick say to Kwame, “Stay on your toes…!” This is because at any time, an opponent can send you running off to one side of the court and you must always be prepared. It’s frustrating at times, Kwame says, but the game is a lot of fun.

Kwame’s routine includes making healthy lifestyle choices….or having them made for him. His coach has banned him from drinking soft drinks and he hasn’t had one in two years, he says. He has to stay away from many junk foods and he only eats KFC chicken maybe once a month. His diet includes a lot of provision and salt fish, but his favourite food is roti. Each time Kwame attends the gym he must write down what he ate that day so the trainer can approve of his meal plan, or Kwame gets sent home!

Kwame’s training and lifestyle choices have led to successes in the game he loves. Kwame has won several tournaments which include winning the Lease Operators’ Junior Tennis tournament in Boys, under 18 in 2014 as well as the Lease Operators’ Junior Tennis Tournament in the Boys Doubles in 2013. He also won the 2013 Senior Boys Doubles in the Sagicor Junior Tennis Tournament.

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 1222 l Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NkRUmaH PaTRIck

Kwame’s favourite tennis player is Novak Djokovic, a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked the world’s

number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

Kwame dreams of becoming a professional tennis player in the United States one day.His advice to young people

in Trinidad and Tobago is to “Keep dreaming, never doubt yourself, because anything is possible.”

applauds Kwame Patrick. Good luck to you Kwame.

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NkRUmaH PaTRIck l 23

Kwame’s favourite tennis player is Novak Djokovic, a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked the world’s

number 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

Kwame dreams of becoming a professional tennis player in the United States one day.His advice to young people

in Trinidad and Tobago is to “Keep dreaming, never doubt yourself, because anything is possible.”

applauds Kwame Patrick. Good luck to you Kwame.

24 l Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NSdSL YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

Non - CommunicableD I S E A S E S I N T H E W O R K P L A C E

The constant increase in fatalities due to Non-

Communicable Diseases (NCDs) throughout the Caribbean is startling. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that NCDs accounts for over 60% of premature deaths (death before the age of 75) in our beautiful twin island of Trinidad and Tobago. The most common NCDs in Trinidad and Tobago include cardiovascular

diseases, stroke, diabetes and cancer. The high prevalence of NCDs not only affects the quality of life of our citizens but it also has a great impact on the economic status of our country. Employee productivity starts to decline, further resulting in an overall impact on the image of the workplace. The workplace is the perfect place to encourage health promotion since the average employee dedicates one third of their day at work. When you think about

the number of persons suffering with heart problems; and are at risk for other diseases like diabetes, stroke and cancer, the amount of time that has to be dedicated to hospital visits, sick leave, days off, compared to the time which could have been spent at work, feeling well and alive. Workplace health promotion would benefit the individual, the company and the country at large. There are various measures that can be taken in order

NATIONAL SCHOOLS DIETARY SERVICES LIMITED

Couva /Pt. Lisas Chamber of Commerce Building

Camden Road, Couva

snp1@tstt.net.tt OR nutrition.nsdsl@gmail.com

636-8922/0560 or 679-4624/0405

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values HEALtHY LIfEstYLE WITH NSdSL l 25

Non - Communicable

to curb NCDs, if you implement health promotion strategies dedicated to addressing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity, poor eating habits, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Health promotion strategies in the workplace is a great way to address the level of NCDs bombarding the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago but the strategies must be properly developed and communicated to employees of the company/workplace in order to be effective. Physical inactivity, obesity, poor eating habits, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, alcohol use and smoking can all be addressed in the workplace. A plan can be made to deal with these risk factors together as a company. In this way, employees would feel a sense of pride, not have the support when trying to make the right decisions related to their health. They can encourage each other to take action and improve the productivity level in the workplace, and at the same time prevent the onset of NCDs such as heart related diseases, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

New initiatives can be developed within the workplace to address the risk factors surrounding NCDs through proper assessment. Before strategies are implemented, the following issues need to be addressed in the workplace: the most common risk factors present, the level of energy and time spent on health care and prevention and the overall productivity level. After properly assessing the workplace

and planning strategies, new initiatives can be established such as:

The National Schools Dietary Services Limited (NSDSL)* has started a new initiative addressing Hypertension (high blood pressure) and Diabetes (high blood sugar levels). This initiative seeks to educate the employees about the signs and symptoms associated with high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. We are teaching them how to use the instrument used for testing: the sphygmomanometer to test their blood pressure and the glucose meter to test blood sugar levels; to keep their readings at optimal level. By educating employees, you provide an avenue for them to better assess their own health and do what needs to be done to feel great, which further results in high productivity levels.

The workplace is a great place to implement health promotion programmes and activities, to address NCDs, because of the significant amount of time employees spend there. By tackling the main risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and physical inactivity, one workplace at a time, we can improve the lives of individuals, the countries’ economic standard, while reducing the total amount of fatalities caused by NCDs in our beautiful country.

The NSDSL can assist with the assessment, development and implementation of such programmes. Let's make our Trinidad and Tobago workforce a healthier and more productive one.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS DIETARY SERVICES LIMITED

Couva /Pt. Lisas Chamber of Commerce Building

Camden Road, Couva

snp1@tstt.net.tt OR nutrition.nsdsl@gmail.com

636-8922/0560 or 679-4624/0405

1. Nutrition Education: educate the staff about healthy meal options and ways to incorporate wholesome nutritious foods, like fruits and vegetables, into their daily diet.

2. Physical activity programme or gym at the workplace: encourage employees to further increase their overall physical activity level, competitions can be used to encourage participation.

3. A smoke free policy: create one to decrease the level of smoking on a daily basis.

4. Seminars and teaching sessions: engage the employees in health related updates while assessing and gathering opinions of employees about new promotion ideas that can be enforced in the workplace.

5. Employees’ participation in fun related activities: this will relieve stress, further resulting in positive thinking and higher levels of productivity. Throughout the work year encourage activities such as sports, cooking competitions, and fund raisers.

26 l Family Values PEtEr ELIAs CoLLECtIoN YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values PEtEr ELIAs CoLLECtIoN l 27

28 l Family Values tHE IMPortANCE of fAMILY VALuEs YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

The ImporTance of

FamilyV a L U e S

JoSanne fo r r e ST I n e

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values tHE IMPortANCE of fAMILY VALuEs l 29

It pains my heart to know how many young people go astray in society. It’s puzzling to me that so many young people are not contributing to society

in a positive manner. As whitney famously sang, “I believe the children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way”. If we are losing our youths to violence, neglect, crime, what future have we as a nation? There must be a breakdown somewhere in our system. Where is the support for children who really need it in our society? I believe in born leaders however I do not believe in born delinquents. A delinquent has to be nurture and breed that way; lacking proper guidance, proper care and family values.

Family morals and values are the key components in the development of a well rounded child. Ask anyone who has been successful in their lives. They live by the expectations and standard of ethics set by their parents. Proper etiquette and manners are a direct result of these standards and expectations. Family values stem from both cultural and religious beliefs; for example, “Keeping the Sabbath Holy” or “saying please and thank you.” It is that simple, yet we live under some misconceptions pushing us to believe a person’s development solely depends on their academic background or their affiliations. A person’s achievement solely depends on what they have achieved. A person’s lifestyle only strives on what they can afford. Hence the reason we have so many young people who either want to live in the fast lane or so academically incline that are unsociable, snobbish and not humble.

We need strong role models for our young people just the same way we need great parenting skills. We need to teach our young people how to address others, how to exercise what is right and wrong; what is a want from what is a need. We need to shower them with all the love a person can give and give them the proper guidance of life. Remember, life is a rocky road and at one side there would be bright neon lights to lure them into temptations, on the other side there are the dreams and aspirations that one may be determined to fulfill but hard work and stick-to-itiveness is necessary. There will be some dark roads that may peak their interest. What family values tend to do is provide a map to navigate them through life. Once that has been done, the future of Trinidad and Tobago is bright and fruitful one.

30 l Family Values MVP - WHErE dId tHEY Go? YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12

YOUTH VOICES MAGAZINE l IssuE 12 Family Values MVP - WHErE dId tHEY Go? l 31

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.”

Presuming this is a correct thesis of human behavior, written by a Greek sage, Aristotle, 21 centuries ago, it continues to astound myself and most probably some intellectual geniuses as to why our efforts in child development, safety, care and nurturing have failed spectacularly on all levels. It must be noted that there are and have been many great and courageous persons who have overtime stood up, lamenting the doleful persistent abuse to children and the inexplicable way they are being allowed to grow from innocence to nuisances. However, it is also heart rendering to note that many of these same protesters of injustice and so-called role models behave atrociously and continue to embarrass themselves ridiculously for the entire world to see. Although Trinidad and Tobago along with other Caribbean islands have implemented

regulations and laws to protect children and reduce the plague of ‘innocence to nuisance’, the problems persist and the questions continue to resound throughout the nations; Why do children and thereby youths carelessly stray off their directed paths ? Furthermore, what has become of the guidelines for growth and stability? In a modern, ever-changing world there seems to be little - if not any - place for morals, values and principles within the younger generations. Ethics are on the brink of extinction, yet still, many are deceived to believe they possess this fundamental principle. What is very apparent to me is that most people do not have a clear understanding of the distinction between those three, According to Paul Chippendale, On Values, Ethics, Morals and Principles he states; Morals prescribe what is or is not considered important behavior in one’s life; Values describe what is or is important in a person’s life while Principles inform our choice

of values, morals and ethics. The younger generations are alienated to these vital principles, hence, the ‘screw up’ in their character building. Gone are the days when a parent would ask his/her child what was the moral of a particular story / movie, instead they are left to bask in entertainment glory. Gone are the days when a child could have been corrected my neighbors for inappropriate ideologies or behavior. Gone are the days when a young man would enter a maxi taxi and voice his good manners. Gone are the days when virtues were held in high esteem and practice with pride. I have come to an understanding that is takes compassion, to consider change, it takes courage to go deeper in search of light, it takes understanding to move forward, change habits and start anew a road to excellence… if not for us - for our future generation.

HAROLD JO’S

236 Eastern Main RoadEl Dorado, Tunapuna

Republic of T&T West Indies

Tel/Fax: 1 868 645-7233Cell: 1 868 798-8709

Email: jadonj@tstt.net.tt

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