Karate classes for juvenile detainees

Youths of the Sophia Juvenile Detention Centre will now have the opportunity to participate in karate training, courtesy of the Guyana Karate College (GKC), thanks to the intervention of non-governmental organisation, Enhanced Potential to Inspire Change (EPIC)-Guyana.

Chief Instructor of the Guyana Karate College Frank Woon-A-Tai and Sensei Jeffrey Wong conducted their initial visit to the facility on Tuesday, and the programme is expected to come on stream next week when classes begin.

It is EPIC-Guyana’s hope that the programme will help to boost the self-esteem of the youths and allow them to expend their energy in a manner that is not potentially damaging. Those who participate in the programme will be graded, and can build on their progress once released.

“At EPIC we believe in giving chances, and we try to make the juvenile centre juvenile-friendly,” Brian Backer, cofounder of EPIC Guyana, stated.

“We want to give the youths there a chance to challenge their energy in a positive way. Youths have a lot of energy and they always vent it through the wrong channels and getting into problems.”

Backer also expressed his appreciation to GKC instructors Woon-A-Tai and Wong, and reminded that the organisation welcomes volunteers who believe that they contribute positively. Sensei Wong stated that he was the product of underprivileged areas which gave him a deeper understanding of the detained children.

Meanwhile, Principal of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Penelope Harris paid a visit last Friday to the Juvenile facility, where she gave a motivational talk to the youths and encouraged them to see and realise their abilities. Backer described the meeting as a “fresh approach,” and indicated that EPICGuyana would be looking to conduct similar sessions in the future.

The Sophia Juvenile Detention Centre currently houses 28 children—23 boys and 5 girls, all of whom are charged, and are on remand. The institution only houses children up to the age of 17, after which they are transferred to the young offenders’ block.

The institution comes under the purview of the Ministry of Public Security, which provides all the children’s resources, including their social and educational needs.

EPIC-Guyana was founded early last year with the aim of empowering youths in conflict with the law.