The Boyz2Men programme, focused on empowering young Caymanians, was out over the weekend painting and repairing the home of an elderly resident in West Bay.
Boyz2Men board member and Cayman Compass journalist Seaford Russell explained that the goal of the weekend was to uplift a community member in need, while mentoring and enriching the lives of the 13- to 16-year-old boys that participate in the programme.
“We learned that one of the occupants of the house is blind, but what the eyes don’t see, the heart feels,” Russell said.
Forty-nine boys worked over the weekend to give a fresh coat of paint to the house where Finita Ebanks lives with other members of her family.
“The experience taught us to work together respectfully and in a responsible way, so we can be treated the same way too,” said 16-year-old Armani McLean, who said he enjoyed the experience of painting the house.
“It looks great now, and we had fun while doing it. Working together like that made me appreciate the importance of good communication.”
Over 700 boys have been through the Boyz2Men programme since it was founded in 2009. This year, 160 boys signed up for the community programme from three different schools: John Gray High School, Clifton Hunter High School and Hope Academy.
“We know some of the boys lack strong male role models in their lives,” said programme founder Christopher Murray, who is a school counsellor at John Gray High School.
“These experiences forge a sense of brotherhood and working together doing something meaningful and proactive is uplifting for them. They learn new skills; they see the power of teamwork and they enjoy giving back and helping other people out.”
Murray thanked KFC for providing the food and refreshments for the boys while they were painting the house.
“I also want to thank security officer Cassius Murray and Simon Miller who helped instruct and guide the boys during the painting process,” Murray said.
“We recently had a father-and-son dominoes tournament and some of the boys don’t have a father figure in their lives and that was pretty heart rending.
“We are always looking for more mentors, so if there is someone out there who wants to give back,” he added. “People who are reputable. So, if you can support Boys2Men, we would appreciate that.”
Murray explained that Boyz2Men also has a fishing tournament coming up in February.
“We will be renting three boats for the all-boys extravaganza fishing trip. There will be prizes for the biggest fish and the most fish, so the costs add up. Any help we can get, we always really appreciate.”
Murray said experiences like the fishing trip help break down barriers between different cultures and nationalities.
“They are out on the water together. Some of them are experiencing a trip out on a boat the first time, boys from Honduras and Cayman and Jamaica or wherever,” he said.
“They are laughing together and improving their fishing skills and building bonds of friendship during this shared experience. The boys really look forward to it.”
If you are interested in supporting Boyz2Men, email Murray at [email protected], call him at (345)329-0021 or call Simon Miller at (345)928-8535. The organisation is always looking for role models or donations to fund its programmes.
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