Barbados’ Ambassador for Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) the Reverend Michael Steele held a press conference at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on Friday. In attendance at the press conference was Austrian race-car driver and human rights activist Niki Lanik who is in Barbados promoting human rights.Reverend Steele met with Lanik while in Switzerland, during a human rights summit held there recently. “It was a great opportunity, because we got to see what is happening in other countries,” said Rev. Steele of the summit. He added that while there is a lot of work to be done, the schools are co-operative, as are the various Government Ministries, who, Rev. Steele said, help in any way that they can.
The 22-year-old Lanik is an Ambassador for Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), an organisation that was started approximately seven years ago. This year, the organisation which began with just a music video and later an educational DVD, now offers an educational pack, that can be ordered for schools free of charge, from their website. It can also be used as lesson guides for teachers to educate their students, about human rights. “It is a very education based campaign for the children,” Lanik added.Rev. Steele is also leader of the Steele Trinity Youth Academy, which has the purpose of creating awareness and informing young people of their human rights, so they can make informed decisions on an action-plan. “That’s our duty,” he added.
Lanik and Rev. Steele visited the Combermere School promoting their cause and will visit the Alleyne, Coleridge and Parry and Grantley Adams Memorial schools in the coming days.
YHRI on Ning: www.yhribarbados.ning.com