Updated: Aug 28
Even if one has made the wrong turn in life and has suffered the consequences, Â it is never too late to become empowered in order to empower others.
Imagine someone imprisoned for murder being a mentor to a young person who is now a doctor.
Some lessons learnt from this reported experience include:
There are always children or adolescents who are suffering from family neglect or abuse and need empowerment.
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 There is need for more restorative justice in our correctional services. Here, persons in prison who show promise can be allowed special privileges to empower others as part of their rehabilitation.
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For those who have made errors. It is vital to help them study and understand the law. Thus they can better keep within the law when they go back in Also they will know how to use the law to  protect themselves and others from stigma and a removal of their human rights. Mr. Muir was an advocate for inmates learning to read and getting to know the law.
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Let us never write off persons that have committed a crime and subject them to a destructive path or punishment. Remember it is NEVER too late . So let us advocate for prison reform and enabling ex-convicts to empower others.
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We cannot ignore the realities of racial or ethnic intolerance and oppression in preventing the empowerment of persons individually or collectively.
In any ethic group throughout history, mass denials of human rights have affected the stability of mind, body, spirit and social relationships across many generations.
The only way to overcome the trauma of our individual or collective past is to face it, heal the hurts and develop strategies to overcome any continuing influences.
Let us be innovative in coming up with practical solutions.
See some useful articles below.
Empowerment conquers all!!
Updated: Aug 28
We all live in a global society. Nevertheless our efforts to build a better world can begin in our own nations.
An article by Dennis Chung a journalist and business manager, can be accessed by clicking the link below. The article describes several persons in Jamaica whom he has identified as nation builders.
These are some features he identifies with being a national builder.
Being successful not just as a business person but more importantly as a person.
One whose actions add to the development of the country whether it is nationally or on a smaller scale.
It is not the status or wealth of the person that matters. It is the action taken towards developing something to add fundamental value and change to the lives of people and the country.
Emotional intelligence or “Person acumen’ is more important than business acumen. One’s satisfaction is not from national awards but from the rewards of empowering others.
A willingness to associate and spend time in sharing and learning from person of all levels of the society. They make themselves accessible.
Focusing on the positives about what can be done rather than becoming immobilized by falsehood and what is going wrong.
Service for the country is their passion rather than gossip and public spats.
Being solution focused rather than criticism focused.
They care deeply for the people they lead and talk of their team all the time.
They serve as inspirations and role models.
They each have specific personal charities to which the give sacrificially.
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Food for thought
Do you wish to be you a nation builder?
Using the above principles how can you contribute positively to the strengthening of your nation – even in some small way?