By Avenash Ramzan
At a time when Guyana is plagued with numerous social ills, one senior bank official is urging youths to get involved in sport and chart a positive lifestyle. Jennifer Cipriani, the Marketing Manager of Scotiabank (Guyana), speaking during the annual Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket launch on Thursday in Georgetown, expounded on the enormous benefits one can derive from pursuing an active lifestyle in sport.
“Scotiabank is big on supporting sports and for good reason. According to www.heathfitnessrevolution.com, there are tremendous benefits to having our children involved in sports. Apart from the obvious contribution to physical development and fitness, playing sports promotes mental and psychological advances in children,” Cipriani mentioned.
She continued, “Sport builds character, boosts self-esteem, strengthens perseverance, teaches discipline and sportsmanship, develops teamwork skills, promotes healthy competition and provides guidance to make the right decisions.”
Cipriani further stated there must be investment in the country’s youths, in order to prepare them to become productive members of society.
“Every day, as we read or watch the news, we are hit by reports of suicide, robberies, domestic violence and other social ills. Many of the persons involved or affected are young. These youths are our future leaders, parents, teachers, business persons, customers etc.- what are we doing to equip them to become productive members of society in the future?,” Cipriani highlighted.
She added, “As we embark on the 2017 Kiddy Cricket programme, it is my wish that the hundreds of Kiddy cricketers involved in this programme develop not only their cricketing skills, but also their life skills, giving us emotionally intelligent youths and adults, who are equipped to make good choices.”
For the last 18 years, Scotiabank has been providing an avenue for youngsters to positively channel their energies through the Kiddy Cricket programme. The Guyana leg was launched on Thursday with thousands of boys and girls set to participate when the countrywide programme gets underway on February 21.
