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Today, in celebrating Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the world pays homage to someone who has triumphed over adversity and has led the charge in transforming a nation; someone, whose influence and appeal to our better nature has justifiably earned him international recognition and respect for a life truly lived in service of humanity. His Excellency, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, freedom fighter, philosopher,...

KINGSTON — A draft of the new National Youth Policy should be available by August 2012 after approval by Cabinet.  The findings of the 2010 Jamaica National Youth Survey will inform the revision of the existing Youth Policy and give insight into developmental models and programmes for Youth. This was revealed by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports...

KINGSTON — The Youth Mainstreaming Strategy, being developed by the Government, will ensure the full inclusion of young people throughout all levels of policy decision-making, said Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture, Senator Warren Newby. He was addressing a JIS Think Tank held recently at the agency’s headquarters on Half-Way-Tree Road, St. Andrew. “What the strategy will do is...

KINGSTON — Two new Youth Information Centres (YICs) are scheduled to be opened this year in Clarendon and St. Catherine, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The projects will be spearheaded by the National Centre for Youth Development, an agency of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry, Senator Warren Newby, made the disclosure...

KINGSTON — Some 20 young people from 11 inner city communities in Kingston, Clarendon, and St. Catherine are to benefit from scholarships to engage in programmes in the visual and performing arts at the University of Technology (UTech). The $1,070,000 Music and Entertainment Outreach Programme, which will begin next month, is a joint initiative of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund...

LONDON — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, says Jamaica is poised to become the leading training base for sprint athletes from across the globe and is urging major investors in sports to develop initiatives that will lead to improved structures and facilities on the island. She was delivering the keynote address at a fundraising dinner for...

MANDEVILLE — Residents of Manchester converged at the birthplace of the Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley in Roxborough on Monday July 4, 2011 for a civic ceremony to commemorate the 118th anniversary of the National Hero’s birth. Organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the ceremony featured tributes in song, dance, and poetry from cultural groups and festival of...

MIAMI — Entries are now being accepted for the 11th staging of the Independence essay competition organised by the Jamaica Information Service's (JIS) Miami office.  The annual competition forms part of activities to mark Emancipation and Independence celebrations in Jamaican communities in Florida. It is open to all first and second generation Jamaican children, five to 18 years old, who...

KINGSTON — The Ministries of Labour and Social Security, and Youth, Sports, and Culture are cooperating on the Steps-to-Work Summer Camp, to give some 1,300 high school dropouts, ages 15 to 18 years, an opportunity to develop literacy and job skills to re-enter the school system, or seek employment. The programme, which also involves the National Youth Service (NYS), is...

KINGSTON — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague says the 4-H Movement must continue to provide the foundation, which will engender an appreciation of agriculture as a viable career option, by its members and other young people. “Although the 4-H has (over) 66,000 members celebrating 71 years of existence, I am still going to challenge the Movement to...

KINGSTON — Youth, Sports and Culture Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, says exposure to armed violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly for commercial purposes, are some of the major challenges facing children. Speaking at the second regional meeting of  the Inter-American Programme for the Prevention and Eradication of Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Illegal Trafficking and Trade in Children and Adolescents, at the...

KINGSTON — Since its inception in 2003, the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has received over a billion dollars from the industry towards the arts and culture sub-sector. Of that amount, some $114 million has been allocated to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture mandated to unearth,...