Couples who want to spend their Valentine’s night doing something special can wine, dine, dance  and be entertained at Duke Lodge tonight for a mere $10,000.

The dinner, which will see live entertainment and dancing, is organised by the Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) in aid of its Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBSG) programme.
Project Coordinator of the programme, Miriam Corlette-Williams, told The Scene that VYC is appealing to the public to support the dinner and dance as by doing so they would be supporting young people by providing them with mentors.

Tickets for the event can be had at the VYC secretariat at Lot 146 Crown Street, Queenstown.
The BBBSG is an in-school mentoring programme and it is an initiative that was designed by VYC to help disadvantaged and “at risk” children to perform to their full potential.

According to VYC, the programme seeks to give vulnerable child the opportunity to interact with someone older and more knowledgeable and to create one-to-one relationship between the two. It also aims to help the child to positively build on their assets and help mentor the child to cultivate a positive sense of self and his/her future.

Volunteers are only required to give one hour every week during school/work day excluding all holidays and since it not a financial aid programme, volunteers are encouraged not to spend money on the children. While prior experience is an asset it is not a pre-requisite for becoming a mentor.
Mentors must be over the age of 21 and has a sound educational background. They must have no criminal record and must be of good character and be able to commit for at least one school year.
Those who are being mentored are between the ages of six and 17 and they must be enrolled in a school where the BBBSG is conducted.

Corlette-Williams said they need more male mentors and persons interested can call Kristy on 223-7404 or 231-4016.