There is a drive to increase the membership of the Second Anguilla Boys Brigade Company – not just to have a full-size organization, but to protect and shape the lives of some of Anguilla’s upcoming young men.
The above company is attached to the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in The Valley. It was in the nearby Church Hall, now being used for divine services, while the hurricane-hit church building is being repaired, that some training activities were held last weekend.
“This is a new term for the Boys’ Brigade and we are focusing on membership,” the Captain, Mr. Andre Samuel, told The Anguillian newspaper. “We are having a games afternoon today, Saturday, but we have a whole schedule of activities to encourage membership etc. So far, we have had a welcome-back event and some drills. Today is just our photo op in our indoor games, and we also have some Bible Olympics.
“On February 2nd we will be having a culture corner, doing some fish fries, johnnycakes, lemonade and passion fruit drink. These and other varied activities are to keep the boys engaged.
“As we know there are a lot of things going on regarding young men going astray, and so we are just playing our part, as leaders in the Church and the Boys’ Brigade, to ensure that we keep young men on a straight path. So the mix of physical, agricultural and Biblical activities are all in line with the tenets of becoming responsible young men in the Boys’ Brigade.”
Mr. Samuel is being assisted with the 2nd Anguilla Boys’ Brigade Company by Warrant Officers, Ms. Dorla Hodge and Ms. Gina Brooks. All three, though very busy with their separate occupations, devote a considerable amount of their personal time in helping to shape the lives of the young Valley Boys’ Brigade members. Andre heads the Environmental Department; Dorla is the Director of People and Culture at Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Anguilla; and Gina is the Tourism Planner in the Ministry of Tourism.
There are three other Boys’ Brigade Companies in Anguilla. The First is at Bethel Methodist Church, South Hill; the Third at Zion, North Hill; and the Fourth at Immanuel, West End.
