The Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation will be holding a series of character development seminars in conjunction with the Josephson Institute next week.They are designed to show how character development activities can be integrated into sports and youth programmes and enable young people to thrive.The week of seminars will culminate with the department holding its own conference at the Fairmont Southampton Princess and the 30th Annual Sports Awards, a gala ceremony to be attended by the Premier Paula Cox and Minister Glenn Blakeney.The three-day Character Development Seminar (CDS) runs from Monday, February 21 to Wednesday, February 23 at the Fairmont Southampton Princess. The training seminar will provide strategies to enable schools or other organisations to make a difference in the lives of students, nurture academic and intellectual development as well as ethical, social and emotional growth.CDS graduates can also expect to strengthen teaching skills, train others to have a greater impact on the lives and success of youth, develop character building activities for existing curricula, extra-curricular activities and sports programmes and respond effectively to challenges from youth, parents and colleagues.The Pursuing Victory With Honor Sportsmanship Seminar will be held on Thursday, 24 February to Friday, 25 February at the Fairmont Southampton Princess and will train coaches, youth sport leaders and athletic directors how to teach, enforce, advocate and model good sportsmanship and effectively respond to challenges and questions from student athletes, fans, officials, parents and colleagues.The Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation conference on Saturday, 26 February will enable stakeholders and all agencies involved to have a wide ranging discussions on issues including a question and answer with the Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development and will cover the World Anti Doping Agency and ratification.The week of seminars will end on Saturday evening with the Annual Sports Awards, where 25 athletes will receive awards including Athlete Of The Year and a new award will be announced, the male and female Junior Athlete Of The Year.“The Government of Bermuda is intent on developing the full potential of our youth through sport and recreation and the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation is taking the lead role in ensuring our youth achieve this goal,” said Minister Blakeney.