Dominican youth are getting an opportunity to display their skills in cartoon art and fashion thanks to the OECS Juvenile Justice Reform Project.
A competition dubbed “The Talent Display” was launched on Monday afternoon and according to Magistrate Gloria Augustus, it’s a competition geared at recognising talents of the youth which are not given enough recognition.
“The whole idea is that if young people are engaged in activities that they like to do, that is legal not crimes and also in activities where they have talent and skill and these talents and skills are highlighted and they can benefit from it, they are appreciated and they can even move further on with that, they wouldn’t have the time to go and do other things to come in the court,”she said.
Augustus added that her inspiration for organizing a competition of that nature came from a student of the Community High School. She said that while giving the student a ride one evening, she noticed his drawings in a notebook and his enthusiasm about his art inspired her to put something in place for recognition to be given to students with such talents.
Youth interested in submitting entries for fashion designs are encouraged to do so by March 18th while cartoon/anime/graffiti designs should be submitted by April 17th. Fashion designs include clothing, jewellery or bags. All of the designs will be displayed in an exhibition on April 26th.
A three month internship at the business place of Kenny Green is one of the prizes being offered.
Judges for the cartoon/graffiti, anime designs include Earl Ettienne, Alwin Bully, Petrus Victor, Kenny Green and Petros Meaza while Claudia Henderson, Marlyn Jean Jacques, Keena Baptiste and Astrid D Shillingford are expected to judge the fashion designs.
The OECS Juvenile Justice Reform Project was born out of discussions between the OECS Secretariat and USAID. This project is expected to strengthen the Juvenile Justice System through appropriate reform measures applied both nationally as well as sub regionally.
The OECS Juvenile Project is supported by a US Presidential Intitiative called the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and resources are channelled through USAID.
CONGRATS AND HAPPY KEENA BAPTIST IS JUDGE. SHE GOT TALENT IN FASHION
Way to go Gloria, sounds like a great project. Hope it goes well.
An excellent idea. Providing youth with opportunities to develop their talents serves as a deterrent to involvement in the juvenile justice system. Positive youth development will ensure that young people spend their time productively developing skills that will lead to graduation and later to gainful employment.