Certificates of Participation
One hundred young persons were acknowledged as Manifesto Volunteer Personnel (MVP) on Saturday, March 17, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in a graduation ceremony as part of the European Union-funded Youth Empowerment through Art and Culture Project being executed by grassroots arts organization, Manifesto|Jamaica.
The youth, who came from Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse, Trench Town, Denham Town, Tivoli Gardens, Fletcher’s Land, Nannyville and Mountain View participated in a series of arts-based workshops held by Manifesto|Jamaica. On March 3rd and 4th, dozens of youth from the aforementioned communities attended workshops on Yoga, Filmmaking, The Business of Music, Capoeira, Live Food, Dub Poetry and Movements in Dancehall.
Participants meditate during a yoga session
On Saturday, many of the same young persons attended Manifesto|Jamaica’s MVP training, which included presentations on Project Management, Public Speaking and Social Media. This took place before the evening’s graduation ceremony at which many of these young persons were awarded certificates and Manifesto|Jamaica badges.
The ceremony featured performances by the dance groups, Black Eagles and Overload Skankers, as well as Keina Morrison, who delivered a poem. Musical performances by Iba Mahr and Chevaughn followed. Kevin Wallen of the S.E.T. Foundation then gave a moving speech to inspire the youth on their paths of success.
Kevin Wallen of the S.E.T. Foundation
Afterwards, a total of one hundred young persons were visibly excited as they received their certificates and badges. They have been participants in the three-month Youth Empowerment through Art and Culture Project, which is supervised by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). This EU-funded Manifesto|Jamaica initiative, ends on Saturday, March 24 with a ‘Minifesto’ in Seaview Gardens. This ‘Minifesto’ will feature arts-based workshops, an open art studio for children and ‘edutainment’ provided by Manifesto|Jamaica.
