On July 19, a parent gathering hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport at the multifunctional community center in Sophia’s Lust brought to light growing public support for the department’s flagship GRO (Growth, Direction & Development) youth initiative, alongside new calls for long-term program stability and expanded support for caregiver skill development.
Parents of children enrolled in the GRO program opened the discussion by sharing tangible, positive changes they have observed in their kids since joining the initiative. Many reported clear improvements in children’s behavioral regulation, academic motivation, and classroom performance, with attendees uniformly expressing strong gratitude for the program’s work and urging government officials to lock in its permanent status. The gathering was intentionally structured to create a structured space for caregivers to share on-the-ground experiences and outline unmet needs related to the initiative.
Beyond celebrating youth outcomes, parents also used the meeting to highlight a gap in current programming: opportunities for their own personal and professional growth. Attendees proposed adding a range of adult skills training modules, including information and communications technology (ICT) literacy, bread and snack preparation, textile processing, parenting coaching, and family planning education. Parents argued that these offerings would not only advance individual growth for caregivers but also strengthen family stability at home, creating a more supportive environment for young people to thrive.
Milton Tuart, Acting Deputy Director of Youth Centers at the ministry, led the government side of the conversation, engaging directly with parents on all proposals and addressing questions about the program’s future trajectory. In closing, parents reaffirmed that the GRO program delivers irreplaceable value for child and youth development across the country, stressing that its long-term survival should not be tied to shifting political priorities. This step, they argued, would ensure that future generations of young people can access the same life-changing opportunities that current participants enjoy.
First launched by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport, the GRO program was designed to foster holistic personal, social, and community development for children and adolescents. Its core offerings include after-school enrichment activities, talent discovery programs, social skills training, structured parent engagement initiatives, and holiday programming, all built to help young people uncover their unique strengths, build lasting self-confidence, and grow into well-rounded community members. Ministry officials have repeatedly emphasized that sustained parent engagement is one of the program’s core pillars of success. By fostering collaborative partnerships between parents, schools, civil society organizations, and other community stakeholders, the ministry aims to build a supportive ecosystem where all young people can reach their full potential.