-centre to cater to youth
The APNU-affiliated Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) has established the Shaquille Grant Foundation, in honour of the 17-year-old from who was fatally shot by police on September 11 in Agricola.
According to President of the YCT Jermaine Grant, inspiration for the initiative came from Shonette Adams, the dead boy’s mother, who after her son’s death, expressed an interest in creating a centre which she hopes will empower youths in Agricola and other communities. Grant stated that Adams considered the aspirations of her son and was adamant that something should be done for every youth who has such aspirations.
At a media briefing yesterday, Grant made it clear that although the YCT played an integral role in the registration of the foundation as well as the setting up of a bank account to receive donations, the actual administration and direction of the foundation will be determined by the people of Agricola as well as Shaquille’s family.
Representing the Grant family at the launch was Shaquille’s sister, Ketina Lynch and his cousin, Nigel Chisholm. According to Lynch, the centre will provide a place where youths can make constructive use of their time. She said she hopes it will encourage the youths in the community to “lime” less, since “liming is now seen as a bad thing and reason enough to be shot by police.” She also stated that the centre will provide youths with the necessary tools to better their lives.
Lynch revealed that her mother Shonette, and her grandfather, Gordon Grey, were supposed to be at the event but could not make it because “he [her grandfather) tek in over the whole situation and mommy had to carry he to the hospital.”
Grant said the centre will be engaging in a variety of activities, including literacy and computer literacy programmes. There will also be leadership and mentorship sessions as well as seminars educating youths about their civic responsibilities and the role they can play in the advancement of social justice and change. Grant opined that the training received by youths at the centre will not only enable them to become gainfully employed and contributors to society, but also to become peer educators, teaching and influencing their fellow youth to do the same.
Literacy programmes will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 pm to 6 pm for children ages 2-6 as well as sessions for 12 year olds. In addition, there will be computer literacy programmes for students preparing to sit the CSEC examinations. Grant however noted that in order for this foundation to function effectively there will be need for funds and all who are interested in making donations can do so into the foundation’s account at Republic Bank.
