Minister Tinée Furbert Visits Somersfield
L-R: Charlie Judd (Head of Secondary), April Cherry, Christina Lee, Dezirae Darrell, Naomi Crofton, Yemaya Iris, Riki Teteina (Head of School), Heidi Paulos, Hayleigh Cherry, Carmen Dill (Counsellor), Sydney Troake, Kiara-Ma’Lie Weeks-George, Namazio Dill, Zarah Siddiqi, and the Hon. Tinée Furbert, JP, MP. [photo credit: Jai Swan]
December 12, 2024 — Somersfield Academy hosted the Honourable Tinée Furbert, Minister of Youth, Social Development, and Seniors, for an Office of Youth Affairs’ (TOYA) ZONE event. The visit centred on meaningful conversations with students, giving them a platform to share their perspectives on the issues and challenges they encounter daily.
The event provided a space to explore the Ministry’s initiatives aimed at supporting youth development. Minister Furbert outlined programmes focused on education, mentorship, and skill-building, with an emphasis on working collaboratively with schools, community organisations, and NGOs. These efforts aim to meet the diverse needs of young people, from academic support to mental health resources and opportunities for personal growth.
L-R: Shiia Davis, Hon. Tinée Furbert, JP, MP, Diya Steed, Christina Lee, and Micah Doran.
During her visit, Minister Furbert toured the Design Lab, where M4 students Shiia Davis, Micah Doran, Christina Lee, and Diya Steede presented innovative projects addressing homelessness. Their designs focused on creating shelters for individuals without permanent housing, emphasising affordability, the use of recycled materials, and efficient construction. The projects reflect a deep awareness of the causes of homelessness and a desire to identify practical solutions that can make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
By engaging with the students, Minister Furbert gained insight into their ideas and the thought processes behind their designs. The conversation extended to comparisons between student solutions and Bermuda’s current approaches to addressing homelessness.
The initiative not only encouraged students to think critically about social issues but also highlighted the importance of empathy and collaboration in tackling complex challenges. By focusing on shared humanity and understanding, students are learning to approach problems with creativity and a sense of purpose.
Minister Furbert’s visit to Somersfield Academy underscored the value of dialogue between government leaders and young advocates. It served as a reminder of the potential for partnerships to inspire positive change and foster solutions that benefit the community as a whole.