September 2024 saw national charity, StreetDoctors, deliver training overseas thanks to a partnership with the UK Health Security Agency under the UK Commonwealth and Foreign Office.
The ten-day international project saw StreetDoctors successfully train 19 young people through its StepWise programme. The programme teaches young people hands-on first-aid, the skills to save a life, and the knowledge and confidence to co-facilitate training to other young people.
By the end of the project, participants had increased their:
- knowledge in emergency first aid by 125.3%
- confidence in delivering emergency first aid by 200.6%
- willingness to help in an emergency by 98.6%
Thursday 3rd October saw the first Certificate and Recognition Ceremony to celebrate the hard work of the young participants who completed the StepWise programme; marking a significant achievement in Anguilla’s fight against youth violence.
The event, chaired by Mrs. Jemima Romney, Centre Manager of the Blowing Point youth Development Centre, and was attended by the Honorary Parliamentary Secretary, Merrick Richdardson, Dr Aisha Andrewin the Chief Medical Officer and Hyacinth Bradley the Community Services Planner.
Following the event, the graduated cohort went on to deliver training to other local young people. This encouraged conversations around the overall community needs in Anguilla and the psychological needs of young people affected by the violence that occurs.
It has been a key priority for everyone involved in tackling violence to gain a better understanding of why young people are drawn into gangs and find strategies to enable them to make better choices and a positive impact in their community. The fact that your programme empowers young Anguillian’s to make that change is very powerful.