Corville Hylton, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda Big Brother of the Year, left, with ‘little brother’ Ta-Ziyah Kelly (photo provided)

Jennifer Howard, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda’s Big Sister of the Year, left, with her ‘little sister’, Asaiya Brangman (Photograph provided)

A police officer first decided to try to keep the young men on the straight and narrow because he wanted the young people to avoid bad influences that might cause them to meet on an official basis.

Now, 16 years later, Corville Hylton has taken a total of five young men under his wing as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bermuda team and has just won his Big Brother of the Year award – for the second time.

Mr Hylton, a police officer who is the ‘big brother’ to two 14-year-old boys, Ta-Ziyah Kelly and Keizae Tankard, said: ‘I’m a police officer and joining Big Brothers is something I thought was necessary because some of them our young men need guidance not to end up meeting me elsewhere.

“Contributing to this will help us as police officers.

“We see a lot of young men who could do incredibly well in their lives but don’t have that person who believes in them and encourages them – it can set them back.

“They need someone to cheer them on and encourage them.”

Jennifer Howard received the Big Sister of the Year award at a ceremony held at the White Horse Pub and Restaurant in St George on Sunday.

Mr Hylton’s first three younger brothers are now out of the scheme, but he is still in contact with them.

One is at university in the UK, the other is at university in Canada and the other is enlisted in the British army.

Keizae Tankard, “little brother” of Corville Hylton (Photograph provided)

Mr Hylton, who also won the Big Brother of the Year award in 2010, said he was now part of all of his little brothers’ families.

He encouraged people who were willing to give time and effort to register to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Mr. Hylton said, “It’s a great program. Look at what you can do to make a positive difference and have an impact. You will make a friend for life.

“I don’t come into the program to get anything from them, but you get so much out of it.

“Working with children helps you relive your childhood. You can go to the track, ride your bike, seek out culture like Harbor Nights, attend family functions, cricket, football, concerts. The list is endless.

Ta-Ziyah Kelly, who nominated Mr Hylton, said in a voice note played at the awards ceremony: “Since I was nine, Uncle Corville has been a part of my life.

“He’s been such a great support system for me. He attended graduation ceremonies, recitals, takes me to pick loquats. I remember I was way up in that tree looking for medlars and Uncle Corville down there with the bag said, “If you need someone to help you pick medlars , Uncle Corville is the man”.

“We’re going cycling, we’re going fishing and I don’t think we’ve caught any fish, but we’re just enjoying the free time.

“An important part of what he introduced me to was Toastmasters International, which is a program to help me become more comfortable speaking and presenting.

“Whether he wins or not, he’s going to be my big brother of the year, every year.”

Ms Howard has been the “big sister” of Asaiya Brangman, 15, since 2017.

Jennifer Howard, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda’s Big Sister of the Year, right, with her ‘little sister’, Asaiya Brangman (photo provided)

Asaiya lost her mother when she was 3 and her family said Ms Howard’s presence in her life helped.

Ms Howard added: “I wanted to give back to the community, but I think I get a lot out of it too, especially watching Asaiya grow and develop.

“She was calm and spoke softly, but she is so confident now. His long-term goal is to go abroad. She is interested in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

“She lost her mother at a very young age and she doesn’t have a mother figure. It created a lot of support for her. I made a lifelong friend and sister.

Ms Howard said: ‘We are so similar. We have the same sense of humor and the same interests.

“We do anything and everything. His favorite activity is going to the aquarium. She feels good there.

“Family is important to both of us, so she’s spending time with my family and I’m spending time with hers.”

Joan Butterfield, Asaiya’s great-grandmother, added, “They cook together, go to the movies, she goes to Jennifer’s mom. It’s been wonderful for her.

Patrina O’Connor-Paynter, the charity’s chief executive, congratulated the winners and called on others to follow in their footsteps.

She said even people who couldn’t make time to be a big brother or sister could help in other ways.

Ms O’Connor-Paynter said: ‘You can have a skill set that you can offer a child. You can help them with their homework or teach them how to make a kite.

“We ask the question – what do you have to offer?”

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