Mrs. Naria Holbert and three of her Journey’s International pupils paid a courtesy call to Captain of Coral Harbour Glenn McPhee and his executive team of the Base Civil Construction Maintenance Unit led by Commander Kenneth Forbes at HMBS Coral Harbour on July 12th, 2022.In keeping with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic intent to strengthen community relations with stakeholders and larger community members, Captain Glenn McPhee and Mrs. Holbert of Journey’s International hosted a woodworking workshop as an initial collaboration to instruct youths on how to use their hands positively. The woodworking workshop was held at the Base Civil Construction Maintenance Unit on July 14, 2022, for twenty-six (26) children and three (3) chaperones from the Journeys International Institute. BCCMU team instructors Chief Petty Officer Clinton Bowleg, Petty Officer Randy Levarity, Leading Mechanic Princeton Mackey, and Able Mechanics David Meadows and Donald Newbold instructed students on various trade skills in the disciplines of: Tiling, Carpentry, Masonry and Electrical.On completion of the workshop, Captain McPhee and Commander Forbes, along with his executive team, Sub Lieutenant Renaldo Wilkinson and Force Chief Petty Officer Prescott Burrows addressed the group with impactful words to motivate and encourage them to remain focused. After which, the students were presented by Captain Glen McPhee with his book entitled, “The Marine Recruit’s Guide” as a parting gift. The one-day workshop was made possible by the combined efforts of Leading Mechanic Joevonne Simmons and Mrs. Dezree Taylor and thus, future youth activities with The Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be developed in conjunction with Journey International as a result.Journey’s International has over three hundred (300) children who have benefited from the initiative to date. Its intent is to provide positive alternatives to conditions that may lead to poor life choices for inner-city adolescents. The summer program now comprises of thirty-five (35) pupils from grades 5 through 9, with 90% of the participants coming from the inner city (Englerston, Bain, and Grants Town). The organization has been in existence for five years and is a licensed organization by the Ministry of Youth and the Attorney General’s Office. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to its mandate by empowering the nation’s youth through positive initiatives and developing partnerships with community stakeholders through collaborative efforts.