Badge of Honour for 40 Years of Service in Youth Development and Education

The Bible verse ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ not only holds the most significance for Beulett Carol Hunter but reflects the approach she has taken in more than four decades of working in Youth Development and Education.

For her service, she was presented with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for advancing Uniformed Youth Groups in Schools and Communities, at this year’s National Honours and Awards Ceremony held on October 16 at King’s House.

Ms. Hunter tells JIS News that she wanted to work in education from the days of “teaching her dolls and hibiscus plants at home”.

“I had persons from church who had gone into teaching and so I had that kind of relationship and mentorship. I decided ‘OK then, that’s it; Shortwood Teachers’ college it shall be”. By the time I reached high school, my primary-school principal told my father I needed to do my JSC (Jamaica School Certificate) subjects, because I need to be preparing long before. By the time I finished third form, I had nine JSCs and went straight to teachers’ college,” she says.

Although she has taught and lectured in at least six schools, worked as a Policy Analyst and Researcher as well as a Senior Education Officer in Tertiary Supervision in the Education Ministry, Ms. Hunter’s contribution to Youth Development blossomed predominantly outside of the classroom.

“I got involved in the Pathfinder movement as a child growing up. As an adult, I got further training in the area known as the Master Guides, who are the leaders in the Pathfinders Club. After this, I became involved in not only guiding the children but in training other leaders,” she says.

“After you train them, you have to get the children involved in the work, because the salvation part is good, since they are already at church. But you have to get them involved in the work in the community,” Ms. Hunter adds.

A firm believer in the Pathfinder’s motto of ‘Salvation and Service’, her work with the group has impacted several communities, including Drewsland and Maverley, in Kingston.

“My church at the time was Washington Gardens Seventh-day Adventist Church. I would get the children to go into the community to do chores for the elderly. My focus has always been on working with children and young people,” she says.

Ms. Hunter organised school and homework programmes and conducted educational expositions for residents to access entrepreneurial mentors.

Her work also guided persons into critical business partnerships as well as to educational programmes at HEART/NSTA Trust and community college courses.

In addition to training Pathfinder leaders for the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Youth Training Institute, Ms. Hunter has represented the group both locally and internationally.

Ms. Hunter’s training in Educational Planning and Supervision as well as her proven dedication, resulted in her membership as an Executive of the Uniformed Youth Groups Secretariat, representing the Pathfinders.

The Uniformed Youth Groups Secretariat is a body comprised of representatives from the respective uniformed youth groups that are recognised formally and are operating in Jamaica.

Chair of the Uniformed Youth Groups Secretariat, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Oral Khan, who has worked with Ms. Hunter for more than 10 years, describes her as a consistent voice and passionate advocate for the work of Uniformed Youth Groups.

“Carol Hunter is a person of solid character and integrity. She has been very dependable and always able to mobilise the participation and involvement of the Pathfinders. Because of this, we have found that the Pathfinders are front and centre in participating in activities,” Lt. Col. Khan tells JIS News.

“Previously, we didn’t quite have the participation of the Pathfinders in these events. But they are now fully embraced and recognised as the largest Uniformed Youth Group in the island and they have made quite an impact,” he adds.

Ms. Hunter says the development of any society has to start with the training of the minds and the shaping of the lives of youth.

“From my religious perspective, I believe that you should train up a child in the way he should grow, and when he is old he shall not depart from it. This is why education for me is so important. How you treat and train children and the kind of support you offer them is important,” she tells JIS News.

Although retired from teaching, Ms. Hunter continues to add to the thousands of lives she has touched through her church at Pembroke Hall and with the Uniformed Groups.

“I still go out and visit clubs and participate in training. I also just completed the Restorative Justice (RJ) Practices Programme because I want to go into the schools to work and continue training. My life continues to surround school,” she says.