Bermudian children who presented their research projects at a youth summit were yesterday praised for their hard work and enthusiasm.

The five youngsters completed projects designed to inspire young people to take control of their future, which they presented at the recent Bermuda International Youth Summit.

The children, whose projects ranged from writing poems to starting reading clubs, were given certificates for their participation.

Kathy Bassett, of the Hamilton Rotary Club, which organised the summit, said: “We were ecstatic to see the amount of enthusiasm involved and the high calibre of speeches there were from the children – who were as young as nine.”

The pupils, who came from public and private schools, were charged with researching topics that most impacted young people and finding ways to turn them into advocates.

They presented their projects during the youth summit on November 19 at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.

The summit also featured live and pre-recorded speeches from children and young adults who were based in Bermuda and abroad.

The speeches touched on topics such as interest-free school loans and the environment.

Trayonah Maina, 9, the youngest presenter, read an original poem about the important role that bees serve on the ecosystem.

Sandro Fubler, a young Bermudian who operates his own physiotherapy practice, also spoke on “the student journey” and the importance of mentorship.

He told The Royal Gazette: “You have ups and you have downs, but you learn from each and every single part of that.”

He added: “The last person I worked with was in his eighties and I always say I learn more from a person like him sharing their story than I would ever learn from a university professor.

“When sharing your story, you don’t know how it’d going to impact someone’s life – but it’s important to be comfortable enough to share it, even if it’s a tough story.”