It may not be gift-wrapped, but giving young offenders a second chance will prove to be a worthy, life-long present this Christmas.Stores manager, Hollis Besson, of West Bees Supermarket in Diego Martin said they hire lads in order to help reform them.West Bees, which opened three years ago, decided to take their social/corporate responsibility in the community seriously by employing lads from the Youth Training Centre (YTC) and from the St Michael's School for Boys throughout this year. "We started hiring two years ago," Besson said."Anything to remove the community out of a violent state." Some of the YTC lads were part of a Growing Leaders Foundation (GLF) Training Programme this year and were all excited to show their trainers that they could be productive in the workplace.The Foundation believes that corporate T&T can play a great role in assisting these young people to rebuild their confidence. "The key to the success of the boys is simply building their confidence. Yes, they have made mistakes but they are learning through some incredible work being done with them at the facility that their failures do not define their future," said GLF founder Sally Ann Della Casa.
"And with this strengthening of their hearts and mind and understanding that they too can become leaders in society, they are poised to flourish if given the right support and opportunities," Della Casa added.Besson gave an example, stating that one young man they hired became involved in crime after working at the supermarket. His mother pleaded with West Bees re-hire him.Besson said they rehired him and helped him to become more positive."They use our business as a stepping stone," Besson said.The supermarket also spread the Christmas spirit within YTC's walls this month and delivered more than 20 imported vanilla holiday cakes.It's not just young offenders who are given a chance to prove their worth but also the disabled community.The supermarket has hired those who are deaf/mute. Besson said those who can speak have learnt to communicate with them.Besson said they help once they believe there will be a benefit to the people.
Corporate help
Della Casa said the key now was for companies to really play a major role providing internships to the boys while they are still at the facility. "Talking to the boys about how to make it is one thing but showing them they can, is another," she added. "These boys can be placed in internships for at least three to six months before they leave YTC so they know they can hold jobs which builds their confidence, plus they leave having a bank account and some money in the bank... "Well, these boys may just make it."