From left: Misha Spanner, Carol Cuvalay, Senior Carnival Queen Ebony Rivers, RehabTime President Trent Shelton, Junior Carnival Queen Cathryn Sanchez and Camilla Berkel-Dembrook at F.D. Roosevelt Airport.
The audience at the International Rights of the Child event at Mike van Putten Youth Center.
ST. EUSTATIUS–In collaboration with stakeholders in the fields of education, social work and after-school caretaking, the Safety Net Team volunteers committed and dedicated themselves to join other countries around the world in observing the International Rights of the Child Day on Monday, November 20.
The theme for this year is: “Stop Violence Against Children.” This is the second year Safety Net organised a public event in highlighting children’s rights. They presented founder and President of the Christian non-profit organisation RehabTime Trent Shelton from the United States as motivational speaker during the evening at Mike van Putten Youth Center.
Shelton is considered one of the most impactful speakers of this generation. He has over six million followers on social media, reaches over 50 million people weekly through his various social-media outlets, and travels the world to speak his message of creating lasting change in life.
The audience at the International Rights of the Child event at Mike van Putten Youth Center.
As guest speaker he addressed all the exam students of Gwendoline van Putten and NuStar schools. These two sessions were considered a boost for the students in preparing them for their final exams.
Before the evening programme, persons could meet Shelton during a meet-and-greet at Super Burger.
“Persons have been following Mr. Shelton on social media, where they have been inspired, healed and empowered by his videos,” Carol Cuvalay said.
Shelton not only addressed the theme of this year’s Rights of the Child Day but also highlighted other topics, such as the responsibility of parents, and especially the role of the fathers; being positive role models for children; and creating safer environments for children.
Shelton said it was his dream in life to play professional football in the NFL. He said he was an undrafted free agent. After driving 14 hours to get to the team, he was cut. Afterwards, he said he went through bouts of depression and self-doubt.
Two things changed his life: the birth of his son and his best friend committing suicide. At that point he realised that life was not guaranteed. He said he got sick and tired of being sick and tired, and changed his life.
He said he quit football, because he realised he was hanging onto football out of fear. “People hold onto something, because they are afraid of change,” Shelton said.
He told the crowd to think of three things: to be grateful for their life, be grateful for something outside themselves, and think about what you can do to make a difference within the community.
He travelled to Third World countries and saw that people that had less were more fulfilled and people in the States, who have more, were less fulfilled. He said it took him some time figure out why.
A person from the Third World said to him that when a person learns to appreciate everything that they have, they will realise that they have everything they need.
Social media by contrast tells “that nothing is ever enough.” Shelton said this mindset encourages persons to chase something that will always be unattainable.
He said he sees the generation of today as a hurt generation, and “we need to reassure them that we are on their side.”
Speaking about what Statians can do to make their island a better place Shelton told them they could do five things. “Don’t put limitations on your lives. Follow through on your commitments. Have discipline as greatness requires constituency. Have faith and believe in the odds, and have heart, let your potential grow. If you want to seek change, change your
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71197-trent-shelton-featured-speaker-during-rights-of-the-child-day
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