Jane Goodall once said: “Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world.”
Wadainya Weinberger, Franchesca Hanna and Kristman Moss of Central Eleuthera High School are indeed doing their part to change the world around them.
In the days since lending their voices to the campaign to Save Lighthouse Point these teenagers from James Cistern, Hatchet Bay and Palmetto Point respectively, have successfully encouraged thousands of Bahamians to sign the online petition to protect their islands sacred space.
Last week, these youth activists took to the airwaves in an impressive and passionate plea to their fellow Eleutherans, the government and the wider public to consider a more sustainable development model for the treasured lighthouse point and the surrounding 700 acres of land.
“Lighthouse Beach is beautiful and picturesque, and we believe it is important to speak out if we want to save it” said 16-year-old Franchesca.
The students first visited the famed Lighthouse Point along with their classmates from the Central Eleuthera High School, and were featured as part of a video to raise awareness about the cause.
During their visit, they gained a first-hand appreciation of the beauty of the point and the potential it has for the future development of their island.
Armed with that knowledge they began encouraging Bahamians and visitors to sign the petition for change.
After They were also instrumental in welcoming media influencers including popular social media personality ‘Sawyer Boy’, RET Entertainment host ‘Rabs’ and radio talk show host Zhivargo Laing to the island to help them gain a similar appreciation for the site.
Because of their advocacy, an additional ten thousand persons have added their names to the petition taking the figure to more than twenty-nine thousand signatures. Now, their efforts have been recognized by the very community they are working to defend.
The trio was recently presented with awards to celebrate their activism, becoming recipients of the Good Citizenship Award as part of the annual Character Day celebrations.
The event, a collaborative effort between various NGO’s and sponsorship partners, honors young men and women who prove, through their actions, that they are prepared to impact the way their society functions.
Each year, Character Day films and activities generate conversation on 24-character traits, grouped into 6 categories on the Periodic Table of Character Strengths.
Events are intrinsically linked to the five key competencies of social and emotional learning - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
“We couldn’t be prouder of these three amazing teenagers” said BNT Executive Director Eric Carey.
“They are passionate and knowledgeable and are using their influence to affect real change, which is what we want to see all the youth of this country do”.
The Bahamas National Trust was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 to build and manage the national park system of the Bahamas. Possibly the only non-governmental organization in the world charged with such a responsibility the TRUST, as it is commonly known works daily to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for present and future generations. There are currently 27 National Parks managed by the TRUST with more than 2 million acres of marine and terrestrial areas protected. Website: http://www.bnt.bs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahamas-National-Trust/25034035861?ref=hl
What is OEF
One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) is a nonprofit development organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It was founded to identify, invest in and strengthen unique, high-quality projects that improve Eleuthera’s communities and further the economic, environmental and social development of the island. OEF invests in organizations that focus on one or more of our five programmatic areas – health and wellness, economic development, environment, culture and heritage, and education. One Eleuthera Foundation represents professionals and organizations that share a commitment to a future built on the responsible development of our island’s many assets and its people.
www.oneeleuthera.org
