Producer/director Collette Jones-Chin has just concluded the Young @ Art Summer Programme which she organises and manages annually.
In a brief online interview with The Scene, she said that over the years the programme has attempted to intensify the awareness of the arts and its importance to youth. The programme caters largely for orphans and less fortunate children. However, in more recent years it has also been open to other children.
“To date we have touched the lives of over 235 children ranging between the ages of eight and 16,” she revealed, “These children graduated with a priceless package of knowledge, skills, empowerment and pride from our programme and were decorated with certificates of participation, special awards for outstanding performances and other gifts.”
This year’s activities included Visual Arts and Craft, Drama, Dance, Cooking, Physical Education and Sewing. Eighty children benefited from the programme that lasted two weeks. Among them were children from the St John Bosco Home for Boys, St Ann’s Orphange for Girls, Joshua House, the Ruimveldt Care Centre and Tiger Bay.
The programme wraps up today at the Girl Guides Building with an art exhibition and concert showcasing all that was taught throughout the programme.
“It really warms my heart to be able to brighten the smiles on the faces of these children; hence my quest to quench their thirsty minds and assist in nurturing their talents using the arts as my vehicle continues” she said, “These classes assist in making them [the children] rounded individuals: empowering them with lifelong skills, enabling them to use their talents to polish their dexterity.”
Collette also noted that the sessions also taught necessary skills like etiquette, decorum, proper use of the English Language and vital virtues and morals.
She was assisted by five other instructors: Cecil Chin, Sonia Yarde, Wavell Ramsey, Brian Belgrave and Patricia Farrier.
