Structured school and youth sports can reverse societal breakdown

Dear Editor,

If one were to go to Banks DIH-Thirst Park (field), on any given Saturday during October/November, between 10:00 am and 3:00pm, they would witness in the form of the Courts Pee Wee (under 11) football tournament, one of several positive models for social transformation taking shape in school sport (tournament) in Guyana.

It is my firm belief that this area, along with education and spiritual formation- provides society with the best and most sustainable opportunity for major transformation.

Those sponsors, youth sport organisers, community groups/clubs, school officials, coaches, teachers and parents who have bought into this idea and can appreciate the enormous benefits of structured school/youth sport involvement; balanced with education and spiritual formation have the correct formula for lifelong success.

Each time I go to Thirst Park (field) to cheer on my little “Marian-knights” , being in that atmosphere ignited by little bundles of Pee Wee energy, it always leaves me with a real sense of joy and optimism as I envision the possibilities of social change and transformation that can come from these activities.

I want to sincerely thank the Petra team for their vision of Pee Wee Football, the sponsors of this tournament for their investment in the social infrastructure of this country and the Ministry of Education and parents for buying into this vehicle of change.

Think of what would happen if Pee Wee football, Mini Basketball, Kiddies Cricket and other mass sports, were organized and played on a year-round basis in a structured, safe and disciplined environment at the community, regional and national levels, with the support of sponsors, government, community organisations, parents and teachers all working together.

Imagine these same children transitioning to junior tournaments conducted in a similar framework and then on to the Digicel Schools football tournament, the Nationals School Basketball Festival and Secondary School Cricket Championship and so forth.

Now think about the possibilities of transformation that we could experience as a society if these environments could be created with a view to shaping and changing lives.

I believe if we could redirect just a third of what we spend on jam sessions

and entertainment to developing solid school and youth sports structures and environments, we would reverse the cycle of violence, state of hopelessness and the mass degeneration and break down of values in our society; and would open a new gateway for positive social change and transformation.

Then we can all sing- oh beautiful Guyana!

 Yours faithfully,

Rev. W. Chris Bowman

Sports and Co-curricular

Coordinator

Marian Academy