The 31st Carols by Candlelight will have a few surprises this year.
However, organisers are keeping them close to the chest. During the media launch yesterday in the Barbados Light & Power’s Christie’s Conference Room, Garrison, St Michael, president of the Rotary Club of Barbados, Jamella Forde said patrons could expect the return of activities like the sing-along and battery-operated candles for the children.
This year’s theme is Songs of a Bajan Christmas and it will again take place on December 13 at Ilaro Court. The main sponsors are Barbados Light & Power and Massy Foundation. However, Forde said the event was about more than music and the joy of gathering with family and friends, as it was also about making a difference in the community.
“Through the funds raised from Carols by Candlelight, the Rotary Club of Barbados continues to support important initiatives in youth development, education, health care and community assistance. Each year, we also invite patrons to bring gifts for less fortunate children, helping us to share the joy of Christmas with those who might otherwise have a little less to celebrate,” she said.
President-elect Roger Blackman, the chair of the planning committee, said the event was their principal annual fund-raiser which would help finance their community projects, especially their Youth Elevation Scheme (YES) plus Positive Pathways.
“Through our partnership with the Barbados Police Service’s Juvenile Liaison Scheme, we deliver two ten-week programmes each year, helping young people develop confidence, manage conflict, explore careers and prepare for their futures. As chair of the YES Plus Programme, I have seen first-hand the difference the right support and encouragement can make in a young person’s life. This is why this work is especially meaningful to me,” he said.
Blackman said young people were too often hampered by things such as transportation, course fees and a lack of learning materials and tools, which could be addressed through partnership initiatives such as Carols by Candlelight. He said their plans also included renovating the Police Boys and Girls Club, where YES Plus was conducted.
“Long after the music ends and candles have dimmed, a young person could be charting a new direction for their life, starting a course, receiving guidance from a mentor, gaining confidence or taking a step they once believed was way beyond their reach. This is the lasting impact of Carols by Candlelight and that is something truly worth coming together for,” he said. (CA)
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