Helping our Youth to Believe…in Themselves

When I arrived at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, the room was already humming, completely filled with schoolchildren, teachers and assorted officials. I squeezed into a seat right near the door, next to a young woman tapping gently on a Samsung Galaxy Note (I felt a twinge of envy, quickly suppressed). Behind us sat a petite girl in a pale blue party dress. For the next hour or so, the doors were clogged with belated groups of despondent students and teachers, looking around for vacant seats. There were very few.

Yes, the place was packed… National Youth Conference. (My photo)

And everyone was on time, and the event started on time. Which is really worth remarking on, because this is quite a rarity in Jamaica. Perhaps it was because the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, was going to be there and one cannot be late for him. He had swished past us as we headed downtown, with outriders (police escorts in dashing white jackets) wailing their sirens. Of course, he had a head start on us.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen gave us an update on the “I Believe” Initiative. (My photo)

And why was Sir Patrick attending this event? It was the National Youth Conference, supported by his own “I Believe” Initiative (IBI). With his very considerable influence and an enthusiastic band of workers, the project has been a great success so far. It has made an impact, with all kinds of empowering activities for youth taking place. Sir Patrick told us that the idea had taken root on February 26, 2009. After careful planning, I Believe was launched in May, 2011. The aim is not only to inspire and motivate young people, but to show them options. Even in these difficult times, the Initiative seeks to give practical advice as well as financial and moral support, as thousands of young people make their way out into the increasingly hazardous and uncertain world of (un)employment. Career development and encouraging youth entrepreneurship are two major thrusts.

“I Believe” sounds at first like the title of a gospel song; and indeed, Sir Patrick Allen is a religious man. But it is also about believing in one’s own abilities. And Sir Patrick’s remarks struck me as very sensible: “What we need is unity, so that the best brains, the abundant creative genius of our people may be brought together to devise and implement appropriate strategies for our advancement.” Who can argue with that? The IBI slogan goes something like this: “There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.” And we know – we know – that there is plenty right with Jamaica. It’s a question of harnessing it for progress.

You can find much more about the IBI’s programs on their website at http://www.ibelieveinitiative.org. I noticed that strong partnerships have served it well. Telecoms firm LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless) provides free Internet service at three computer centers in rural Jamaica, with computers donated by “a friendly Embassy.”  An IBI Medical Centre has opened in Spring Village, St. Catherine – one of its “adopted” communities (an excellent idea, I think). There are sixteen IBI Ambassadors who help spread the word and offer mentorship.  Students of a school that has been facing challenges, Holy Trinity High, were invited to a tour and picnic at Kings House, the Governor General’s residence. A parenting skills program will soon be up and running – something that was proposed by the youth themselves. And much more.

Toon Boom’s Joan Vogelsang: Successful people don’t always go in a straight line to get there. (My photo)

After a short break, during which we all scrambled for a drink of juice outside, Ms. Joan Vogelsang (born in the UK, grew up in Jamaica, now living in Montreal, Canada) told us about how she built up a huge animation company called Toon Boom – which calls itself “the global leader in digital content and animation software.” Much of this is applied in education, resulting markedly improved grades. Ms. Vogelsang told us about the incredible global stretch of the creative industries and the career opportunities therein. The young audience was very interested indeed (“Can teens join the company?” asked one), and so was a representative of Mico Teachers Training College.

“People always say you can’t do things,” said Ms. Vogelsang, “But don’t allow yourself to be constrained.” (Or, as my grandmother used to say – and it annoyed the hell out of me, but she was right – “There‘s no such word as can’t.”) “Belief, energy, focus, desire” are the qualities you need to succeed, suggested Ms. Vogelsang, who wants to help build the animation industry in Jamaica; I really hope she will. Already, the University of Technology (UTech), Caribbean Institute of Media & Communications (CARIMAC) at the University of the West Indies, and the HEART Training Academy are offering courses in animation.

Alvin Day: You must believe before it can happen. (My photo)

Mr. Alvin Day is a motivational speaker. His own motivation is, one assumes, built-in. “I came to trouble you,” he announced, flashing a smile (what a lovely Jamaican word that is, “trouble” – real meaning, “I am going to bother you”). Mr. Day has a book, “If Caterpillars Can Fly, So Can I” and he is also a management consultant for some big firms (Forbes, Pepsi, among others). He also does coaching in public speaking. And he was born in Frankfield, Clarendon, Jamaica – a graduate of Edwin Allen High School (cheers from a section of the audience). “I came from a place where there was no dignity,” he told us. I understood that he suffered physical abuse as a child; at fourteen years old he was wetting his bed. But, in the ringing tones of an evangelistic preacher, he told us that he overcame his fears through sheer determination.

A dedicated Jamaican volunteer, Neville Charlton, meets up with Jamaican-born motivational speaker Alvin Day. (My photo)

I liked Mr. Day’s discussion of risk. To risk greatness, he said, you also risk failure. “You are great on the inside,” he noted, but there is “always a risk in believing.” You might be wrong. He pointed us to the importance of developing this self-belief – what he called the Law of Vision. “You must believe in something before it happens,” he said. Prepare yourself, then just do it.

My lunch companions, trainee chefs from Runaway Bay HEART Academy. Such great company too! (My photo)

The organizers had a terrific ticket system for lunch, and we all managed to get served on time in one of the green, open courtyards that are a nice feature of the beautifully-designed Conference Centre. Four young men joined me at my table; they were all trainee chefs from the Runaway Bay HEART Academy. I talked to them, predictably, about food, and their favorite dishes. They will be cooking up a storm on Restaurant Night, ahead of Kingston’s annual Restaurant Week: reservations at 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. at 26 Haining Road in New Kingston on November 2. For more information call: 377-6509. The young men enthusiastically reeled off the list of dishes they will be preparing, and it sounds completely amazing. Why don’t you go along? (I will be out of town, but I would if I could).

Ms. Nastassia Watson, age 15, is a student of Charlemont High School and a member of the school’s Interact Club. (My photo)

Back inside, I had a chat with the girl in the powder-blue party dress, just fifteen years old, and very bright. I have posted a photograph of her. I also met up with a group of young people from the Eagles Marching Band, who posed for their photograph, and told me that they had lost everything – uniforms and instruments – in a recent fire and desperately needed help to buy them back. I wonder if IBI (or anyone else) can assist? This is a plea for help. The Eagles are a great band from the inner city, attached to the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Mr. Levi Roots had one simple message: “Be yourself!” (And he certainly was himself when he slipped out a good old-fashioned Jamaican expression, making the entire audience gasp. But we moved quickly on…) Mr. Roots has this special feistiness and humor that many West Indians who have lived in the UK for a long time acquire. Coincidentally, he was also born in rural Clarendon, the youngest of six children with dreams of attending Glenmuir High School (more cheers from another quarter of the audience). His parents migrated to England and worked hard to bring the family over, one by one. Mr. Roots learnt about cooking, and enjoyed music, while living with his grandmother. Then it was his turn to go to Brixton.

I met up with Levi Roots after lunch. There were many photo-ops with him! (My photo)

Mr. Roots is what you would call a “self-made man.” And if you think it is easy to walk into someone’s office and try to sell not only your product (in his case, a spicy sauce) but yourself as a black Rastafarian man in England… Well, it ain’t. At age 33, he plucked up the nerve to appear on television on a program called “Dragon’s Den” after fifteen years of selling his products (straight from his kitchen) at Notting Hill Carnival; there he was grilled about his plans for a major expansion of his business. You will find a fascinating 15-minute video clip of it on his website. There he also found a mentor, entrepreneur Peter Jones, whom he praises highly.

The secrets of business success, said Mr. Roots, are…

Create a long-term business plan. “Short term planning is just hustling,” he said.

Stick with it. “No business will be a success in less than five years…”

Passion. (And being yourself)

It’s not easy finding the right tone to address an audience with an average age of sixteen or so, but somehow Levi Roots pulled it off – I think perhaps because he didn’t try to lecture them. He was swamped with questions from the audience. Yes, Mr. Roots is a natural.

And yes, his net worth last year was forty million Pounds Sterling.

Mr. Roots mentioned the possibility of setting up a factory in Clarendon to produce his sauce; he also mentioned the establishment of a Levi Roots Scholarship at the University of the West Indies. I really hope he does make good on these wonderful plans.

“With focus, hard work and discipline you can do anything,” Sir Patrick Allen told the Conference in his welcoming remarks. And he is absolutely right. Our children must know this. As I recall a teacher saying on another occasion, “There are no short cuts.” You may think there are, but truly – there just aren’t. I think this is true in 2013, more than ever.

Good luck, and much love, to all our young people.

P.S.  Special thanks to LIME, who provided free wifi for the occasion. Unfortunately, when the MC gave out the password to the hundreds of people in the audience, it collapsed. However, when Mr. Errol Miller, LIME’s chairman (who was at the Conference) realized this, he promised to get the bandwidth expanded on returning to the office. Which he did. It came back after lunch, and we “live tweeters” were all happy! Thank you, Mr. Miller and LIME.

Members of the Eagles Marching Band, from downtown Kingston’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, pose for their picture. They BADLY need help to replace instruments and uniforms destroyed/damaged in a recent fire! (My photo)

Related articles and links:

http://www.ibelieveinitiative.org  I Believe Initiative

http://www.kingshouse.gov.jm The Official Website of the Governor General of Jamaica

https://www.toonboom.com Toon Boom Animation

http://www.alvinday.com Alvin Day: The Empowerment Institute

http://www.leviroots.com Levi Roots official website