Institute of Jamaica Junior Centre to get Facelift on Action Day

The beautification of the Institute of Jamaica Junior Centre in Portmore, St. Catherine, is the national project for Action Day on May 21.
On the day, adults and children from the centre and surrounding communities will be engaged in the painting of the building and erecting a concrete sign to display the services offered at the facility.
Additionally, a mural will be painted on the exterior walls of the Institute by a group of art students and their teacher.
Action Day, which is the youth equivalent of Labour Day, is one of several activities by the National Child Month Committee to mark Child Month in May, under the theme: ‘All I want is a chance to grow up’.
Chairperson of the Action Day Sub-Committee, Vivienne DaCosta, told JIS News that the main aim of the project is to improve the physical appearance of the building.
“The centre is drab. There is no sign. It is not visible, nor is the building attractive from the outside,” Miss DaCosta said, adding that a survey done recently revealed that many persons in the community were unaware that it existed.
Miss DaCosta said that work was estimated to cost over $200,000 and will be supported by a number of corporate sponsors.
According to Miss DaCosta, activities would begin by weekend so as to have everything completed on May 21. Work will be spearheaded by members of the National Child Month Committee.
“We are hoping that we could finish before because we do not want to have many things to do on that final day, but if anything is left, then it would be the painting of the mural, which could be completed on the day,” she said.
According to Miss DaCosta, Action Day provides the opportunity for children to give back to their communities.
“This day creates an opportunity for schools, clubs, church groups and individual children islandwide, to do something for their community, thus promoting good values and community spirit,” she said.
Miss DaCosta is urging persons to register their projects by sending them to Vivienne DaCosta, c/o Dispute Resolution Foundation at 5 Camp Road, Kingston 4, telephone 908-3637.
Among the main sponsors of Child Month are Telecommunications giant, LIME, GraceKennedy, Jamaica National Building Society, Jamaica Banana Producers, Advantage General Insurance Company, Burger King and the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited.