Kingston, Jamaica – The Area Youth Foundation (AYF) led a summer camp at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church on Windward Road in July, which culminated in a musical performance at the Holy Rosary Church on Wednesday, July 30. The drama was collectively created by the young participants and AYF facilitators Omaall Wright, Courtney Swaby and Alwyn Allen.
The musical portrayed life in the community as experienced by the young people and dealt with such issues as single parenthood and community violence. The performance was entertaining and thought-provoking and sparked a lively dialogue among the patrons after the show.
Out of concern for the inter-community tensions between the young people from some of the surrounding communities (which include Rockfort, Bowerbank and Dunkirk), Fr. Walter Dorsey, pastor of Holy Rosary, approached AYF director Sheila Graham, who proposed the 4-week summer camp.
One of the camp’s main activities was to explore the games that children play and their relationship to real life. The young people also explored the behaviours and realities they would banish if they had the power to create a different world.
According to Graham “I think the camp went very well. Young people came together, had fun, explored the issues that affect their lives and, through their end-of-camp presentation, shared their insights with the adults in their lives. In the process they established bonds of friendship that defied the prevailing inter-community tensions.”
Logistical support was provided by James Bell, the AYF’s General Manager who, like Omaall Wright, is a founding member of the AYF, which began 11 years ago, and Michelle Bell, a member of the AYF performing company who was videographer for the event.
Some 40+ young people between 7-17 years of age took part in the summer camp.
About the Area Youth Foundation
The Area Youth Foundation (AYF) is a non-profit arts, education and inner city community development organization. The Foundation works to establish projects which promote the personal development of urban youth (ages 13-25) through arts-based recreational programmes.
The Foundation also carries out formal and informal outreach activities to impact the wider community and suppports the formal education and skills training of participants through scholarships, etc. AYF also produces, promotes and presents the creative endeavors of its participants.
For more information on AYF visit their website at www.myspace.com/areayouthfoundation.
Drummers in neighbourhood parade
AYF Director Sheila Graham with one of the participants