A full month of events is planned to encourage, engage
and celebrate youth all across the various islands of The Bahamas, Minister of
Youth Sports & Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg said in a statement in the House
of Assembly on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
According to Minister Bowleg, the ministry, with the help of the Division of Youth
team, under the leadership of Ms. Sandena Neely, has planned events on various
islands throughout the month of October for National Youth Month under the
theme “Youth Building a B.O.L.D. Future: Bright, Optimistic, Labelless and
Diverse.”
“Not a day, and not a week, but an entire month is dedicated to the recognition of
the work, talent, dedication, testament and stories of our young people and
youth allies. Stories that are so touching and impactful deserve to be
highlighted,” he said.
The calendar of events for National Youth Month for New Providence includes
Youth in Parliament and a first-time event of “Youth in the Senate” on Monday,
October 31 st , 2022.
With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, the minister also stated that the
traditional youth march and rally will take place Sunday, October 23 rd , 2022 to
show “solidarity and unity” for the youth of the nation.
“We will stand together with our young people as we face the future, boldly,” he
said.
The minister encouraged all to participate in the nomination process for the
National Youth Awards in various categories, including arts, sports, leadership,
agriculture, personal triumph, governance, and education.
Various events are planned for islands across The Bahamas, namely Acklins,
Inagua, Andros, Abaco, Exuma, San Salvador, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Long Island,
Mayaguana, and Grand Bahama.
In conjunction with the month of celebration, Minister Bowleg announced the
recipients to be awarded the 2022 National Youth Month Lifetime Achievement
Award and highlighted the significance to the development of youth that each
honoree contributed.
“I am honored to stand today to tell a snippet of the story of a beautiful couple
who hail all the way from Grand Bahama and have made service to our youth a
complete way of life. Leslie and Yvonne McDonald have each given over four
decades of committed and dedicated service to our nation’s young people,” he
said.”
Along with Rev. Leslie and Commandant Yvonne McDonald, the minister also
recognized a third honoree, Anita Doherty, who will be honored posthumously.
Mrs. Doherty, according to the minister, was a “community builder, educator,
coach, leader, mentor and sports legend: Powerful adjectives that describe a life
so well-lived that is only fitting that she continues to be memorialized even after
her passing,” he said.
Minister Bowleg made a clarion call for all to support National Youth Month and
urged that as a nation, the goal is to “honour, highlight and uplift youth who have
made bold efforts toward becoming engaged in pursuits with youth and for
youth; remained hopeful in the midst of change; and share a unified vision to
surpass societal expectation and stereotypes.”
A full month of events is planned to encourage, engage and celebrate youth all across the various islands of The Bahamas, Minister ofYouth Sports & Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg said in a statement in the Houseof Assembly on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
According to Minister Bowleg, the ministry, with the help of the Division of Youthteam, under the leadership of Ms. Sandena Neely, has planned events on variousislands throughout the month of October for National Youth Month under thetheme “Youth Building a B.O.L.D. Future: Bright, Optimistic, Labelless andDiverse.”
“Not a day, and not a week, but an entire month is dedicated to the recognition ofthe work, talent, dedication, testament and stories of our young people andyouth allies. Stories that are so touching and impactful deserve to behighlighted,” he said.
The calendar of events for National Youth Month for New Providence includesYouth in Parliament and a first-time event of “Youth in the Senate” on Monday,October 31 st , 2022.
With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, the minister also stated that thetraditional youth march and rally will take place Sunday, October 23 rd , 2022 toshow “solidarity and unity” for the youth of the nation.
“We will stand together with our young people as we face the future, boldly,” hesaid.
The minister encouraged all to participate in the nomination process for theNational Youth Awards in various categories, including arts, sports, leadership,agriculture, personal triumph, governance, and education.
Various events are planned for islands across The Bahamas, namely Acklins,Inagua, Andros, Abaco, Exuma, San Salvador, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Long Island,Mayaguana, and Grand Bahama.
In conjunction with the month of celebration, Minister Bowleg announced therecipients to be awarded the 2022 National Youth Month Lifetime AchievementAward and highlighted the significance to the development of youth that eachhonoree contributed.
“I am honored to stand today to tell a snippet of the story of a beautiful couplewho hail all the way from Grand Bahama and have made service to our youth acomplete way of life. Leslie and Yvonne McDonald have each given over fourdecades of committed and dedicated service to our nation’s young people,” hesaid.”
Along with Rev. Leslie and Commandant Yvonne McDonald, the minister alsorecognized a third honoree, Anita Doherty, who will be honored posthumously.
Mrs. Doherty, according to the minister, was a “community builder, educator,coach, leader, mentor and sports legend: Powerful adjectives that describe a lifeso well-lived that is only fitting that she continues to be memorialized even afterher passing,” he said.
Minister Bowleg made a clarion call for all to support National Youth Month andurged that as a nation, the goal is to “honour, highlight and uplift youth who havemade bold efforts toward becoming engaged in pursuits with youth and foryouth; remained hopeful in the midst of change; and share a unified vision tosurpass societal expectation and stereotypes.”
