CAYS AND RCIPS COLLABORATE TO FOSTER POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH

The Children and Youth Services Foundation (CAYS) and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) joined forces to host a successful event aimed at strengthening the bond between law enforcement officers and young individuals. The event, which took place on Friday, August 18, saw the participation of various stakeholders and partners, including the Family Resource Centre, Aspire Therapeutic Services, CAYS Foundation Board, the National Children’s Voluntary Organisation (NCVO), the Ministry of Innovation, Investment, and Social Development, and the Department of Children and Family Services.

The RCIPS played a pivotal role in organising the event, with their community police officers actively engaging with the attendees. They generously provided prizes and sponsored all trophies, medals, and ribbons. Additionally, the Cayman Islands Taekwondo Federation showcased a thrilling taekwondo demonstration, adding excitement to the event.

The primary objective of this collaboration was to facilitate the development of positive relationships between RCIPS officers and young people. By allowing them to interact outside of uniform and crisis situations, the aim was to create a foundation of trust and understanding. It is hoped that this positive experience will enable officers to better support young individuals when called upon in the future.

Residents from all three CAYS facilities participated in the event. Approximately 15 young people and 20 staff members were involved in various capacities, including participation, refreshment and food preparation, MC’ing, and officiating. Furthermore, around 15-20 stakeholders attended the event to show their support for the young individuals and actively participate in the activities.

The event aimed to create positive experiences and lasting memories for the young participants. Every effort was made to ensure inclusivity and provide opportunities for all individuals to compete and excel. The young people enthusiastically participated in every aspect of the day, including planning events and serving as team captains, as well as preparing food, taking pictures, and even giving interviews to our MC. Awards were presented not only to the winners of the races but also to those who made outstanding contributions throughout the day.

Keith Boyle, the CAYS Foundation General Manager, explained the value of these types of events: “These activities aimed to boost self-esteem, foster positive self-image, and promote teamwork and support among the young individuals. The collaboration with RCIPS allowed the participants to see the officers as kind, caring, considerate, and fun-loving individuals rather than solely as law enforcement personnel. From a broader perspective, this event exemplified the empowerment of CAYS staff to creatively engage with young people throughout the summer. The entire summer programme was organised by the frontline staff, with this event being one of the highlights. The success of this event is expected to inspire the team to explore new avenues for creating positive experiences for the young individuals.”

Sergeant Christopher Donaldson from the RCIPS Community Policing Unit expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “Building relationships with our youth is an important part of community policing. Opportunities like this, where the police can have positive interactions with young people, help us build trust and respect, which is beneficial to both parties. We look forward to taking part in these types of events again in the future, guided by the mission of the RCIPS.”

The CAYS Foundation and RCIPS are committed to continuing their collaborative efforts to foster positive relationships with young individuals and create a brighter future for the community.