National Service
5 February 2010 | Premier Ewart Brown
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mohandas Gandhi
In the Throne Speech of November 2009 the Government stated its intention to reawaken the qualities of collaboration, basic teamwork and unfailing character in the people of Bermuda through a programme of national service.
The recent acts of senseless violence that have rocked Bermuda, together with the release of the Mincy Report highlighting the plight of our young men have clearly underscored the need for mentoring and other creative strategies to restore Bermuda’s harmony and peace.
The Government has developed one such creative solution with the proposal for a National Service Programme. This programme is designed to engage our young Bermudian men and women in positive and meaningful activity and is only one part of a raft of options developed to not only counter the feeling of entitlement currently held by some of our young people, but also address anti-social behavior and youth violence.
MR. SPEAKER:
Before I go on, let me say that I am proud to acknowledge the many accomplishments and contributions that scores of our young people have made to Bermuda over recent years.
The National Service Programme will allow even more of our young adults to contribute to Bermuda’s national interest, personally and professionally. By sharing their acquired knowledge and talents with other younger Bermudians and by assisting our venerable seniors, the participants in the National Service Programme will be contributing to the development of Bermuda as a whole. Additionally, it will enable younger Bermudians to make sound career choices and enhance those skills required to make them undeniable assets to a broad range of employers.
MR. SPEAKER:
This Government has reviewed National Service programmes which have been successfully implemented in other countries, such as those in South Africa and the United Kingdom, that offer voluntary state sponsored programmes. In the United States, the Corporation for National and Community Service sponsor several service options. In the Caribbean, Jamaica has a volunteer National Youth Service Programme, while the Bahamas is proposing that a programme be implemented. Let me take just a moment to outline how the programme could work.
Individuals who can volunteer for national service will include male and female Bermudians between the ages of twenty four (24) and thirty (30) years. Those who volunteer will be required to provide sixteen hours of service per month for two consecutive years in order to complete the programme. Those who fall within the qualifying age and who are pursuing education abroad may serve upon completion of their studies, with a view to completing their national service before their 30th birthday.
Individuals who volunteer for national service will go through a screening process to ensure the safety and best interest of all participants of the service programme.
A Department for National Service would be the headquarters and place of register for the National Service Programme. This Department will work in conjunction with public schools, the Bermuda College, community centers, hospitals, the Center on Philanthropy, rehabilitation agencies, sports programmes, and other organizations that may provide outreach services to youth, including youth with disabilities. Volunteers will also serve our venerable seniors. Clearly, all proposed activities will be subject to the Department’s approval.
MR. SPEAKER:
Let me share with you some examples of possible national service activities. A programme participant could tutor in an educational programme, or provide health, legal, and financial advice. A participant may be involved in coaching youngsters. The possibilities are indeed limitless and we look forward to considering other ideas from the community as the service takes root and flourishes.
Government and Quango organizations will be encouraged to provide Internship programmes. In this way, our young adults can train and mentor younger Bermudians giving them an insight into available future careers.
This Government will also encourage the private sector to become a part of this national movement. Businesses will be asked to offer Internship programmes that will allow those who volunteer to gain their national service hours by training and mentoring younger Bermudians. This will enable the young to gain practical knowledge of the working world and be introduced to the way business drives Bermuda’s economy.
MR. SPEAKER:
This Government believes no effort should go unnoticed. To reward young people who volunteer for the National Service
Programme for their efforts, and to encourage them to contribute to the on-going success of the programme, the Government proposes that incentives be rendered to participants during and after national service is completed. Such incentives may include free public transportation, or include participation in national service as one of the criteria preferred for attaining Government funding for further education. And as I outline our initial thinking on incentives, I invite the private sector to consider incentives they could offer; such as discount card packages from various retailers, or preferential lending rates.
Over the next several weeks, MR. SPEAKER, members of the Bermudian public will have the opportunity to view the draft National Service Plan. I invite my colleagues in this Honourable House to carefully read it and submit your views and comments on how it can be improved. The draft plan is available online at www.gov.bm and submissions can be sent by email to nationalservice@gov.bm. The deadline for submissions is 31st March 2010.
Finally, MR. SPEAKER, It is my hope that collectively we, the Government and the community, can work together to make this programme a success to the benefit of all our young people and indeed, for the future of our country.
Thank you.
