Recent Queen of Carnival contestant Chandera Codrington is on a quest to motivate, inspire and empower the nation’s youth.
The attorney-at-law is a strong proponent for youth empowerment, and identifying, understanding and addressing issues that are important to young people.
On her 27th birthday, instead of a self-indulgent pampering visit to a spa, and all the bells and whistles of a birthday party, she opted to give back to her alma mater, the Sea View Farm Primary School, to encourage and motivate the grade six students.
Speaking to Observer, Codrington said, “Every year on my birthday, I’m on the receiving end, however this year I wanted to give back. My platform is youth empowerment, and so I thought what better way to celebrate life than to fuse it with my platform and give back to the Sea View Farm Primary School.
“I donated some items, however I also saw it necessary to speak directly to the grade six students. They’ll be entering secondary school in less than a year, and we all know the challenges that come with secondary school, and so I wanted to assist them in preparing for this new environment as well as encourage them with motivational words.”
The youth advocate said she shared with the students the basics of the Anti-Gang Bill and the reason why it was passed in the Lower House of Parliament.
“I needed them to understand the importance of this Bill and the problem that it is trying to address.
“You can face up to 10 years’ imprisonment for being a member of a gang, as well as forming or establishing a gang. One can also face up to 15 years’ imprisonment if he or she is a gang leader.
“They need to understand that in the next 10 to 20 years, they will be the ones making or contributing to the decision-making in Antigua and Barbuda,” she explained.
The former Queen of Carnival contestant said the students were eager and willing to learn, and she is confident that they will all do well.
