IOJ’s East Street Junior Centre Gets A Facelift on Labour Day

Scores of volunteers turned out on Labour Day, Thursday, May 23 to participate in the clean-up and beautification of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) Junior Centre on East Street in downtown Kingston. 

The Junior Centre is an integral part of the IOJ, which aims to encourage cultural awareness among young people, aged six to 18.  

Classes are held in painting and drawing, dance, drama, speech, drumming, pottery, woodwork, and craft at the institution, which began operations in 1940. 

Volunteers painted the sidewalk and the walls surrounding the murals that depict images of children engaging in performing arts activities and playing games. Additionally, they cleaned and repainted the chairs and tables at the Junior Centre.  

Deputy Executive Director of the IOJ, Nicole Patrick-Shaw, told JIS News that the building needed the welcome facelift, while advising of plans to paint additional murals featuring children. 

She also outlined plans for an urban greening project, which will entail the planting of flowers and trees. 

“Because the programme is geared towards children, we want to ensure that it reflects the character of whom we serve [by ensuring] there are plants in the space and that the colours are vibrant and attractive to the children attending the programme,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Patrick-Shaw said this year’s summer programme will focus on the performing arts and mental health, with these involving psychosomatic sessions catering to children. 

“With all that is going on now with the violence displayed by children, we [need] programmes to ensure that social skills are taught because children are not born with social skills,” Mrs. Patrick-Shaw said. 

 “We [also] have to ensure that whatever programme they enter at the Junior Centre, they understand what is proper and what is improper, in terms of value of self, and how to build self-worth and self-esteem, because we recognise that they are having some challenges with conflict resolution and other mental health issues,” she added.  

For more information on the Summer Programme, persons can call the IOJ via phone at 876-922-0620-6, or email at info@instituteofjamaica.org.jm.