Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2001, Ms. Teri-Ann Tucker launched her project under the theme “Quest for Zest” – Empowerment of our Jamaican Boys in collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Falmouth, on Sunday October 21, 2001. The project will focus on two sets of grade five boys from Granville All Age School – the underachievers, and the achievers. During the launch a set of textbooks and teachers’ guide were presented to the Principal, Mr. Richard Black courtesy of the Trelawny Parish Library.

On October 31st Ms. Tucker conducted a one hour (1) Help Session at the school. A total of twenty-two (22) boys were in attendance. They looked at:

• Verbs
• Tenses
• Individual reading sessions
• Use of a foghorn
• Art of public reading

Ms. Tucker identified some boys who need extra help in reading and speaking. Her aim is to help improve the boys’ perception of self, allowing them to have a keen sense of self-worth, which will broaden their minds thus improving their marketability. The major benefit of this programme is to increase the level of the boys’ contribution to the Jamaican society at large.

During her reign and involvement with the project Ms. Tucker hopes to:

• Conduct monthly sessions
• conduct extra tutoring in mathematics, reading, writing, comprehension skills and general knowledge.
• distribute exercise books and pencils
• seek sponsorship for textbooks
• obtain additional books for the school’s reading and writing corner
• stage reading competitions
• have a motivational speaker and counsellor speak with the boys on separate occasions
• have a fun day at Chatwick Gardens with the boys
• have an educational field trip
• host a Christmas treat

Ms. Tucker hopes that at the end of the year the underachievers and slow learners would have been identified and attempts at remedying their problems would have been made.

The objective of the project is to heighten, improve and cultivate young men from communities to become aware of environmental issues. The club will be based at the Boston Primary School and will target boys between the ages of 9-15 years.

This would be achieved through an environmental club to be established in conjunction with different organizations within the communities, along with parents, guardians and other community members.

Ms. Hay hopes to achieve the following:

• acquire and plant trees and flowers within communities
• launch of a “keep our community clean” campaign
• conduct seminars with technical persons and community members on how to protect their environment.

It is hoped that at the end of the year community members would be aware of how they can care for and protect their environment not only for the immediate future but also in the long term.

Ms. Edwards has proposed to set up a training and educational workshop within each zone for a duration of two (2) months each under the theme “working with boys”. These workshops will be held twice per month and will see a maximum of 25 young men, who will receive training in the following areas:

• sex education
• conflict resolution
• career development
• etiquette
• money management
• protocol
• skills training
• speech

The following activities will also be included with a view of enhancing their social skills:

• camping
• talent exposure
• parish tours
• motivational speeches

The aim of the project is to sensitize and educate young men about their identities, their role and importance in their societies. Financial assistance is expected from fund raising events and from different business entities and media houses.

This program will culminate with an awards function to reward effort and improvement. The opportunity will be given to young men to share their personal success stories.