A youth charity is to host a two-day forum for teenagers led by individuals trained in anti-violence advocacy.

Raleigh Bermuda is organising the Youth Forum called I Am Brave: Voices designed to empower participants while tackling conversations about gang and street violence, anger management, bullying, hypersexuality, and alcohol and drugs.

Dany Pen, executive director for Raleigh Bermuda, said: “Raleigh Bermuda believes the presence and voice of our young people matters. Raleigh will support our young people by giving the tools on how to engage and tackle hard conversations.”

The event is tied to Raleigh Bermuda’s I Am Brave programme for high school students aged 14 to 17, led by Raleigh alumni camp counsellors.

The charity’s website says: “In this programme, high school students from all over the island come together to address violence in Bermuda, learn about healthy versus toxic relationships and how to find solutions, hold conversations and develop advocacy.”

The forum is the latest in a series of events aimed at deterring young people from criminal activity.

Raleigh Bermuda hosted a community event in July titled Drugs, Gangs and Corner Boys. Is My Child Being Recruited? It shared research it had conducted including interviews with young people involved in gang activity.

Some of that research suggested that much of Bermuda’s gang culture revolved around the family unit.

About 100 people turned up to the event – twice the number the charity had estimated.

There were presentations by Ms Pen as well as Pc Khalid Pitcher, of the police Gang Targeting Unit, and Camily Lovell, an internationally certified alcohol and drug counsellor at Pathways Bermuda.

Justin Cann, a behavioural therapist and Raleigh Bermuda project manager, who has more than a decade’s worth of experience working within youth development, served as moderator for the presentation.

The I Am Brave: Voices forum is free and open to all high school students aged 14 to 17. A light lunch and beverages will be provided.

It is due to take place on Tuesday, February 14 and Wednesday, February 15 from 10am to 3pm on both days. The event venue is yet to be confirmed.

A refundable deposit of $25 is required at the time of registration to secure a spot. The deposit will be refunded at the end of the month. However, should a registered student fail to attend, the deposit will be kept and donated to the charity’s youth development programmes.

Anyone interested in attending the upcoming event can click here to register.

For more information about Raleigh Bermuda, visit the website here or call 333-5678.