Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Schoolboys happy to help in tough times

First Prev 1 2 3 Next Last
Yann Pugi, left, and his little brother Youenn, right, volunteer their services to charities through their programme Strings and Tasty Things. (Photograph supplied)

Schoolboy brothers who started their own volunteer programme have geared up to offer their in-person services over the third phase of a Covid-19 four stage return to normal life.

Yann and Youenn Pugi are offering their baking and musical talents to charities once again through their organisation Strings and Tasty Things — named because Yann, 14, plays the violin and Youenn, 12, bakes.

The two, from Pembroke, will work with selected charities over the next few weeks.

Youenn said: “We feel really happy because we know that we can go back and keep helping people in these tough times.”

Youenn explained that he played the violin at concerts and as background music at events and his brother provided baked goods.

He said that he used to volunteer at the Grateful Bread food programme, but left because his football practice was moved to the same days he worked for the group.

Yann, who also volunteered monthly at the dinner programme, said that he tried to volunteer on a weekly basis so he could get the minimal community service hours needed for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

But he added that, because Grateful Bread could not offer him a weekly volunteer position, the brothers instead created Strings and Tasty Things to do social service work on their own time.

Yann said that the pair created a Facebook page sent an e-mail to 11 charities.

Youenn added that, after a series of interviews and presentations, Strings and Tasty Things volunteered with six charities, including animal welfare charity the SPCA and WindReach, an outdoor centre for the disabled.

He said: “It felt good to hear back from them because we knew we could help them and that they were willing to have us volunteer.”

Yann added that the charities always gave praised goods that he baked.

He said that he also baked dog treats for the SPCA as a way to contribute to animal care.

Yann added: “I have two dogs of my own and I think they should have a good life, so this is just my way of helping the animals.”

Youenn admitted that he found it difficult to perform as background music because he was used to having an audience.

Youenn added: “It was a little difficult at the start, but I got used to it.”

Yann said that the two had not done voluntary work in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but that he continued to bake for some of the charities that were still open.

Youenn said that he held a virtual violin recital on the Strings and Tasty Things Facebook page on May 29 and planned to do another.

He added that he looked forward to performing in person because he enjoyed the audience response.

Youenn said: “My favourite part is seeing everybody’s happy faces and knowing that I’m helping the community through doing something that I love.”

Youenn Pugi performs the violin for children at the autism centre Tomorrow’s Voices. (Photograph supplied)
Strings and Tasty Things founders Youenn and Yann Pugi prepare to volunteer at Christmas time last year at the special needs facility WindReach. (Photograph supplied)