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MICROENTERPRISE – ARTS-SKILLS TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
Operation Restoration Christian School in Trench Town, Jamaica, was selected as the first recipient of ICS Caribbean Community Development Program. Situated in a battle-scarred area of Kingston’s inner city, Operation Restoration stands as an oasis of peace and a beacon of hope for the community. The ICS-funded summer camp was the first opportunity for many of the students to express their artistic creativity, and as indicated in the letters below, the teachers and students were very appreciative and optimistic about the impact and future growth of the program. ICS plans to work with the school to assist in the development of a micro-entrepreneurial project based on the plastic arts. ICS also supported students from the Elifrey Pratt Dance School in Baltimore to attend the summer institute at the Jamaica School of Dance and to perform at the Operation Restoration School while in Jamaica. ICS will work with the Operation Restoration School to develop a strategic business plan and to seek in kind and other grant assistance to make the micro-enterprise project at Operation Restoration a reality.
Testimonial from Teacher: Deborah Folkes
I am a teacher here at the Restoration Christian School, and I also live in the community. I am writing this letter of appreciation with tears in my heart. As a teacher I experience daily what these children are going through, and sometimes I cry when I hear their depressing stories. But I know God has brought me here for a purpose. I am so glad that there is hope for us because you made that possible by sending the musical set. In the midst of darkness there is always a ray of sunshine and through your rays our school is shining and the birds are singing and sweet! Yes, sweet music is playing! Not the music we are accustomed to with violence and obscenity, but a rhythm we are making ourselves. A rhythm that was long lost but because of your generosity we can beat the rhythm of the drums a different way slow, steady, still and peaceful. Throughout our community we are going to pass on this peace. Thank you for giving our children this opportunity of change through music.
Testimonial from Student: Shadine Mossop, Age 13
We thank you for the musical instrument you send us. We are very glad that you sent them because we have started to learn a lot from them and we intend to take very good care of them. We also thank you for the sewing machine. This will help the boys and girls to lean how to make or mend their own clothes. The kiln for pottery work will give us a chance to display our creative talents in making things like cups, plates and other porcelain items. Thank you for all of these things you send is because we see very good things coming out of them. We appreciate them very much.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
ICS has laid plans for Youth Entrepreneurship Success Seminar (YESS!) an after-school program designed to teach entrepreneurship to young people, ages 13 to 19, to help them develop skills in economic and business literacy. ICS is developing a curriculum that focuses on team-building, conflict resolution, leadership, communication as well as the practical lessons of starting and managing a business. The program will also include in its offerings sessions that examine ethics in business, corporate social responsibility and the global marketplace. A team of experienced professionals will conduct the training program with guest speakers from small business owners in the community. Students who graduate from the 40 hour training program will have fine-tuned and developed their own business ideas, created a business plan, and be ready to launch a micro business with a team of their peers. Additional funding to complement seed funds received from SunTrust Bank and Wachovia Bank is being sought to launch the operations of program in Fall 2005. The Institute’s vision is to empower our youth to become economically self-sufficient and to build strong financially vibrant communities. |
