Petra to initiate volunteer programme through Milo tournament
A look at the volunteer vests with which students will be outfitted during the programme
The Petra Organization has found a new way to engage youths in the secondary school system outside of the 90-minute football games.
With the 9th edition of the Milo Under-18 Schools’ Football tournament set to kick off next Saturday, March 4, 2023, the Organization has launched a volunteer programme attached to the Milo tournament, which has already received the blessing of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
Petra Secretary Jackie Boodie unveiled the brand-new Volunteer programme last week. It will entail the Organization’s utilization of the skills of teens belonging to schools in and around the Georgetown area, and will be done on game days (weekends).
According to Boodie, volunteerism is a major part of the school experience around the world, since it helps in moulding rounded students. Boodie said, “Student volunteers make a difference in society when they give their time and ability to help out in different volunteer activities. In return for their giving, they develop life skills, become well-minded or opened-minded individuals, and get the satisfaction of helping others.”
As such, in keeping with a new MoE mandate for volunteerism, the Petra Organization will be handing the opportunity to 40 students.
“Across the globe, many students are required to volunteer for a certain number of hours to fulfill the requirements for their classes or clubs. In Guyana, the Ministry of Education has embarked on a mandate that, for a child to complete secondary education, he/she must complete not only academics by attaining subjects at CSEC or CAPE, but must also participate in the Arts, sports, or volunteerism,” Boodie explained.
“As such the CEO charged the Petra Organization with this task to include and incorporate Volunteerism into our programme, which he applauded the organization for being a major contributor to sports in schools,” Boodie said about how the volunteer programme came to fruition.
The volunteer programme attached to the Milo U18 tournament will see one male and one female student from 20 schools being equipped with an “I am a proud volunteer” jacket on game days. Those volunteers are set to assist with, and learn, daily operational tasks and gain insights on what administration duties entail.
The Petra Organization Secretary went on to share, “We, at Petra Organisation, accept the charge bestowed upon us by the CEO to use the opportunity teach students valuable skills by allowing them to contribute their time and energy to help worthy causes. Some of the valuable life skills these students will be exposed to are teamwork, networking, communication, administrative and operational tasks.”
The Milo tournament, set to commence next Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground, has been expanded to include 48 teams from across the country. Schools from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 will be competing in this year’s tournament.
