CATEGORY:CULTURE
----------------------

By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada correspondent
Wednesday November 29,2006


GRENADA - Thirty-four youngsters - both boys and girls - are now into the 6th of a 10-week training programme in Belle Isle St David, designed to revive local culture and heritage.

The exercise at the Belle Isle Community Centre is part of the efforts of the Agency for Rural Transformation (ART) After School Programme. The aim of the programme, according ARTS’ General Secretary, Sandra Ferguson, is to develop their talents of the participants and inspire them to aspire to great things, while having fun.

The 3Rs method of teaching people to read, write and literary enhancement are being passed on to the youngsters. Principles of being good and disciplined persons who will be active in their community and skills for their growth and development are also some of the teachings imparted to them.

Another part of the exercise, according to Ferguson, is basic life skills training, which teaches the youngsters to effectively deal with conflict resolution, self-esteem, personal development and social skills.

A very important aspect of the programme is the teaching of the country’s folk songs and dances. It is the hope that the children will participate in the candlelight and dance festivals on the island. It is the belief that with the growth of science and technology, the country’s cultural heritage is being eroded. The Agency for Rural Transformation is hopeful that the After School Programme will re-kindle the old Grenadian Spirit.

Head of the St David Folk Choir, Tessa Mc Quilkin, is one of the tutors, who is in charge of teaching the students some of the Folk songs and dances, while the others are Adult Literacy Teachers, Anthea George, Larnette Slocombe, Stephanie Higgins and Beverley Collins.

During the year ART has also staged programmes for Drumming at the Mt. Horne Community Center in St Andrew and a cricket Programme which attracted over 160 youngsters from St Andrew and St David.