The Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre Rolls Out Its Programs

Did you know the Simón Bolívar Cultural Centre (on the corner of North Parade and Church Street in Kingston) is now open and offering a very wide-ranging program of educational and cultural activities for adults and children? Latin Dance and Latin Nights and Spanish classes for adults; a children’s program; music, art and craft classes; workforce development; a story-writing competition and outreach opportunities. It all looks interesting and creative, and designed to empower the surrounding community as well as students of all ages. I do hope it will be well supported!

The programs listed below, at very reasonable rates, will be rolled out on a phased basis. An exhibition on the life and work of Simón Bolívar and other Caribbean freedom fighters will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm. on Fridays.

For further details, contact the Institute of Jamaica. Tel: 922-0620-6 ext 349; 836-1236. Email: simonbolivarcentre@gmail.com. Visit the Institute’s website: http://www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm

Please do share this information!

Statue of Simon Bolivar in Kingston.

 Adult Programs (Adult education program serves adults 18 years or older)

• Latin Dance

Beginners: Mondays & Tuesdays 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., Saturdays 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Intermediate: Mondays & Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Advanced: Saturdays 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• To introduce Jamaicans to the Latin American Dance Art form. Participants will be able to:

• Perform the dance
• Identify various Latin American songs
• Gain an appreciation of the Latin culture.

 

1a)  Latin Nights (6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., the last Friday evening of each Month).

• This programme is geared to nurture an interest in Latin American Dance form through :
  • various partnerships with existing NGOs,
  • private dance entities
• Improve community relationships and generate funds for the facility

•  Spanish classes (Level 1, 2 and 3)

There are three types of Spanish programs that are offered at the Centre. :

• Level 1: Corporate Workshops for:
• Persons/ companies who are interested in conversational Spanish for business purposes.
• Professionals looking to sharpen their communication skills in Spanish
• Operational staff that interface with Spanish speaking clients and perform operational duties.

Programmes can be tailor-made to suit an individual company’s needs.

•  Level 2: Beginners Spanish

Mondays 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., & Thursdays, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Mondays 5:00 – 6:00 p.m

This program is designed for people who have little or no knowledge of the Spanish language.

• Level 3: Intermediate & Advanced Spanish Classes

Tuesdays 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., & Fridays 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Tuesdays 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

This program is designed specifically to assist students who desire to sit any Spanish examination at the Secondary level.

• Workforce development programs.
• Helps clients with job readiness, application and resume assistance, interview techniques, and offers job fairs held quarterly.
• Helps to empower the participants so that they are better equipped to win job interviews and become economically independent.

Children’s Program

The program is offered during the week (3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and on Saturdays (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.).

• This programme strives to provide a safe and fun environment for children (primary and secondary) to learn and grow, while learning about the Latin American culture and its similarity with our Jamaican Culture.
• The programme not only compliments the child’s educational experience at school, but also provides them with enrichment opportunities as part of an extended day programme.
• This is a ten (10) month programme that runs in tandem with the school academic year   (September – June).

• Latin Dance Classes for Children

Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The objective of this programme is:

• To introduce students to the Latin American Dance Art form.
• To enable participants to perform the dance, identify various Latin American songs, gain an appreciation of the Latin Culture.
• Build self-esteem and relationships.

• Art & Craft Classes

Fridays, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Students in this program will be introduced to murals, paper making, painting, drawings and other art forms popular in Latin American culture.

• Spanish Classes

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Spanish Program is offered at two levels: Beginners and for students preparing for CXC.

• Music Classes

Wednesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Fridays, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

The objective of this program is:

• To sensitize children to Latin American music. At the end of each programme students should be able to play at least two instruments
• Perform two Spanish songs,
• Gain an appreciation of Latin Culture and
• Display a positive change in attitude.

• Children/Youth Outreach/ “Mensaje”: The Messengers

The outreach programs may take the form of displays, lectures, demonstrations, films and performances or any other format that the supporting entity may deem suitable.

This is a special program which seeks to:

• Utilize the resources of the various stakeholders (Latin American Embassies, NGOs and other private sectors)
• Strengthen the cross-cultural links between the Caribbean including Haiti and Latin America
• Re-establish Parade as the Cultural District of downtown Kingston.
• Inform and excite the Jamaican people about Spanish Culture,
• Provide information about the resources available by the various embassies and to showcase the similarities between our cultures.

• Story Writing Competition

Simón Bolívar was renowned for the Jamaican Letter that he had written and to commemorate that important document the Centre hosts an annual “story writing competition.”

The objective of this competition is

• To encourage children to write,
• To develop literacy skills
• To build self esteem.

This will take place during the month of March, when Simón Bolívar wrote his first substantive piece of work.

The Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre opened in downtown Kingston recently.