Cadets taught the skills for life

TWO brothers and former navy commanders, police officers, mothers and organisations have joined hands in shaping and disciplining the youth.

More than 100 children between the ages of 7 and 14 have joined the Ocean View Cadets.

The children are also taught self-defence skills in view of the rising number of kidnappings in the country.

The cadets are the brainchild of brothers Dimetre and Vasco Vigis, who have joined forces with former police officers and navy commanders to form Ocean View Cadets.

Every Saturday, youths gather at Ocean View High School where they carry out drill and training sessions.

The brothers say these lessons have shaped the youth into better children who are more focused at school and at home and are disciplined.

“The idea was born out of my organisation called Vigis Home of Hope, which ran a soup kitchen during lockdown.

“I was caught in substance abuse 20 years ago and I always wanted to give back to the community that I took from.

“We decided to form the Ocean View Cadets to empower the youth.

“We joined with veterans from the police and the navy and the police and we call Team Sierra our mothers, who feed our children during training.

“We have about 80 to 120 cadets between the ages of 7 and 14,” Vasco says.

“We are in partnership with Ocean View High School and the principal and governing body to use their premises every Saturday.

“We also have an accredited life skills facilitator who does talks with the youth.”

Vasco says educators and parents have indicated that the children have become more disciplined at home and in the classroom.

“I am the officer commander and they call me major,” he said.

“We have two drill sergeants, one who has 40 years’ drill experience, who was in the navy, and one who has 30 years’ experience who was in the police.

“We also focus on GBV (gender-based violence), defensive walking to show them skills on how to protect themselves with the kidnappings, and first aid programmes which are facilitated by organisations in the community from Ocean View.

“Team Sierra are our mothers. They prepare our food.

“Some children attend drills and have not eaten for the day and everyone eats together.

“There are testimonials from parents and guardians who say that since the cadets (programme), their children are more calm at home.

“When you call the cadet to attention, the cadet is immediately focused and this happens in the classroom also.”