It was a pantomime written, produced and staged by 35 children from Trench Town, at the grand finale of a two-week Empowering Citizens Through Arts and Enterprise (ECTAE) summer camp, organised by the Joy Town Community Development Foundation (JTCDF).
Among the members of the appreciative audience at the recent production was Jesús Orús Báguena, the European Union’s chargé d’affaires. ECTAE was funded through Jamaica Social Investment Fund by an European Union (EU) grant under the EU’s Poverty Reduction Programme III, in conjunction with the Government of Jamaica.
The pantomime was staged recently by the participants of ECTAE and held at the historic Ambassador Theatre, Trench Town – an open-air theatre which once hosted some of Jamaica’s most memorable entertainment events. The JTCDF, which got possession of the property in 2002, is in the process of acquiring and restoring the facility.
ECTAE’s purpose
ECTAE was organised to provide a forum for young people in Trench Town to openly discuss real-life challenges and put forward a road map for change through self-expression, such as the staging of the pantomime.
“It was also held as an avenue to instil discipline in the daily lives of the young people and raise up the next generation of community leaders by challenging their social and creative skills through high-quality theatrical programming,” said Kenroy Waldo, programme coordinator at JTCDF.
As part of the summer programme, the young people participated in dance, music (vocals) and drama sessions conducted by trained professionals. There were also motivational talks from Dr Carlene Davis Cowan and her husband Tommy Cowan.
“Over the years, we have held a number of residential summer camps outside of the community, but this year we decided to host the programme at the Ambassador Theatre, which is symbolic of the advancement of the arts in Trench Town,” said Major Richard Cooke, president and founder of the Joy Town Community Development Foundation.
He said that through this recent summer camp, the participants, who have been trained in the performing arts, will be able to assist with such existing community-intervention programmes as the JTCDF Youth Coalition for Success Club, and participate in art programmes at their schools or begin a performing arts group in Trench Town.
Also as part of the ECTAE summer camp, public speaking, team work and conflict-resolution skills were brought out during the sessions.
“It is our hope that the knowledge gained will challenge the culture of violence, unemployment and criminal activity by promoting healthy alternatives through this medium,” Major Cooke said.
Since the start of the year, JTCDF has organised a number of projects, including the Gomer Project which included the testing of over 100 sex workers from outside of the community and 200 community residents by a combined foundation and MOH/VCT team.
Messages
Messages on safe sex and reproductive health were also passed on, HIV workshops, on-the corner sessions, as well as remedial education for 60 out-of-school youth and over 50 resident adults; training of 20 young people in commercial food preparation at Jan’s school of Catering and in entrepreneurial skills by HEART Trust/NTA.
In addition, 21 men from the Father’s United for Change CBO in Trench Town are also being trained by JTCDF in life-management skills and lifelong education, through part funding by the Government’s Citizen Security and Justice Programme
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