Young Barbadians were urged to embrace leadership, personal growth and national service as the Barbados Fire Cadet Programme celebrated its 25th anniversary with a call to youth empowerment and transformation.
‘You are not too young to lead,’ was the message to dozens of young people as Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, expressed pride and honour in addressing the Fire Cadet opening ceremony at this major milestone for the programme.
Held under the theme “Honouring the Past to Shape the Future”, the minister said the event aligned with the Barbados Fire Service’s 70th anniversary.
Abrahams urged the young cadets to see the programme as much more than drills and uniforms.
“This five-week programme is not just about drills and theory, it’s about transformation,” Abrahams told the cadets. “You are here not only to learn how to extinguish fires, but to discover how to light a fire in your own lives — a fire of self-belief, self-respect, personal excellence, and respect for all around you.”
Abrahams remarked that the Fire Cadet Programme has grown from a simple junior uniformed group to “a nurturing ground for not only future firefighters, but for future leaders, community builders and citizens of excellence”.
An inspired group of fire cadets. (HG)
He stressed that the government remains committed to expanding the programme’s reach and impact. “As a government, we believe in you. We believe in your potential, your ideas, your voice. We know that when young people are empowered, they become unstoppable,” he declared.
Abrahams pointed out that this year’s programme has been broadened to give cadets crucial skills that go well beyond fire drills. “This is why this year’s programme has been expanded to include life skills, emotional intelligence, leadership training, digital literacy, and spiritual grounding,” he said, adding that young people must be equipped to face a changing world.
He told the cadets they would leave the programme better prepared to handle real-life challenges. “You will learn how to deal with stress, how to manage anger, how to build self-confidence, and how to lead with integrity. You will also learn about empathy, responsibility and accountability. You will discuss things that matter, like online safety, substance abuse, bullying, diversity and mental health, and you will walk away stronger, wiser and more prepared to navigate the complex and ever-changing world around you.”
Abrahams reminded the young recruits of the values the programme aims to instil — qualities he said would serve them in every area of life.
“You are not too young to lead. You are not too small to make a difference. And you are not too early to start shaping the future,” he urged, telling them to “listen, learn, lead” and “always remember that you are capable of greatness,” he encouraged.
As the Barbados Fire Cadet Programme marks its silver anniversary, the minister encouraged the new cadets to see themselves as part of something bigger. “The friendships you form here, the challenges that you overcome and the lessons you learn will stay with you for years to come… Long after the uniform comes off.”
Abrahams reminded them of their place in Barbados’ future: “We cannot always build the future for our youth. But we can build our youth for the future.” (LG)
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