A YOUNG man's continued service to the community paid off when he received a motorcycle for his contributions.

As a member of De Boys' Day Out Club, Chico Lema was awarded the organisation's highest honour - the Furbert Shining Star Award - and presented with a Centro Motorcycle, courtesy of World Distributors.

According to club director Milton Richardson, the CedarBridge Academy student fully deserved both the prize and the special recognition.

"Chico received special recognition for the tremendous progress he made overall - despite his personal challenges and reading disabilty - as well as the amount of years of community service rendered.

"Chico is one of the few dedicated members of the club. He has generously rendered six consecutive years of selfless acts of kindness to better himself and benefit the community. During his involvement in De Boys' Day Out Club, Chico has developed a sense of commitment, responsibility, self-control and self-confidence. This has been evident in the altruistic manner in which he participates in the club's community projects."

De Boys' Day Out Club was established in 1995 as a result of Mr. Richardson's interaction with his male students as a teacher of Primary 6.

Recognising that many of them required emotional guidance as much as they did academic tuition, he wrote asking parents' permission for a boys' day out. The outing was so well received the club was formed.

Today, it caters to boys between the ages of seven and 18 from both private and public schools and operates between September and June. It was at the club's annual recognition ceremony that Chico was presented with his award and the motorcycle.

"The club's main objective is to teach boys how to become more responsible and respectable young men," said Mr. Richardson. "In addition, the club's purpose is to engage its members in doing positive community projects.

"These projects included visits to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, rest homes, feeding the homeless, attending informative seminars, and issuing out cards and flowers to senior citizens, women and hurried shoppers.

"(The club) celebrates the accomplishments of boys that have displayed personal growth academically, socially and emotionally. It is the intent of the organisation to teach and train young boys how to develop into emotionally healthy young men.

"The main focus is on positive male character attributes. These attributes are developed not only through community projects but also through social skill activities such as pretend dates, etiquette workshops, individual consultation and discussions involving those issues facing young men."

q For more information on De Boys' Day Out Club, contact Milton Richardson at 239-0127 or 237-5503.