As the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment advances plans to establish an integrated youth rehabilitation facility for both boys and girls, the Boys Training Centre (BTC) is gearing up to marks a significant milestone with the celebration of its 65th anniversary.

For over six decades, the Centre has been a sanctuary for young men in need, providing guidance, education, and rehabilitation for both juvenile offenders and boys requiring care and protection due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

Manager of the Boys Training Centre, Leanna Wallace, emphasizes that as the lone institution of its kind in Saint Lucia, plays an essential role in shaping young lives, equipping them with academic education, vocational training, and skills to help them become productive members of society.

"Many will think of the negativity when it comes to the Boys Training Centre, but this institution has impacted many lives positively. We don’t hear about the boys who now own their own businesses, or the ones who became police officers, because we tend to focus on the negative. But we want to change that image. With our 65th anniversary, we want to educate the public about the true impact of this Centre."

Under the theme "65 Years of Resilience: Committed to Empowering and Transforming Lives for a Better Future," the Boys Training Centre has planned a series of activities to engage the community, foster partnerships, and highlight its impact. Through these events, the institution aims to raise awareness, strengthen collaborations, and reshape public perceptions of its vital role in transforming lives.

“In keeping with our theme, which is basically shaping better future of those boys that we will be having we want to celebrate in a grand way. We want to have an ecumenical service on the date of our anniversary, which is the 20th. We also looking at having the schools in district one and probably later on during the year, we will invite other schools around Saint Lucia in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, of course. We have what we call an open day for the schools in district one. Of course, we've selected students so that they could come and see what it is that is being done at the Saint Lucia Boys Training Centre. And we were looking at doing that on the 18th of February. And on the 20th we have our ecumenical service."

While the Boys Training Centre has long been a pillar of resilience and mentorship, Wallace says this anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, it is a renewed commitment to empowering young men and building a future where every boy has the chance to succeed.