In his address, former principal of Verulam Secondary, Mr M.I Ismail exhorted learners to improve themselves and emphasised, "We firmly believe that through the efforts of young people like you, our communities will stop to be reservoirs of cheap and unskilled labour and become havens of skills and expertise."
Our Guest speaker, Dr Sherry Vie, an Indian Natural Health Scientist, addressed our learners on various coping skills and self-development programmes. Using a power-point presentation, she showed clearly how the brain reacts to trauma and advocated suitable methods to overcome such situations.
Learners were given an overview of the initial programme that was organised in 2013. An explanation on the importance of the Sunlit Path Diary/ Checklist was presented thereafter. A play, in two parts, encapsulating all the messages presented in 2013, was enacted by the Divine Life Society youth. Lively discussions on the play followed. It was pleasing to listen to the candid views of the learners and appreciate their analytical minds as may be seen by the questions they put to our panel. A brief session on silence rounded off a morning well spent.
We express our gratitude to the Department of Education for the kind permission to organise these programmes with schools. Our thanks go also to the principals of the schools in Verulam for exposing learners to the Sunlit Path Programme. It is hoped that such programmes are held regularly at school level. We thank the Verulam branch of Divine Life Society of S.A. for their kind hospitality and for providing refreshments and lunch. The Society is also grateful to the management of Kraydeb Conference Centre for the use of the Centre, free of charge.
