Personal Update

The month of August has been a very different colour than July for me. In July I was placed at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). JCDC oversaw the festival season including the massive Independence Day celebrations. The work of JCDC played a major role encouraging and championing traditional Jamaican culture through forms of dance, speech, song and drama.

The month of July was a struggle for a number of personal reasons, but no matter what the issue was (loneliness, racism, lack of purpose at work, etc.), they all seem trivial in retrospect. I say that because when I’m connected with God, these issues are barely noticeable.

In August, I was placed at the Ministry of Youth, where I was given the responsibility for evaluating the National Youth Policy for the Parliamentary Secretary of Youth, before the 5 year review comes up in Cabinet. I’m also to evaluate the Ministry’s entire programme, including all programs and projects.
These tasks are challenging, but what makes this job even better is the challenge of coordinating three great projects! My task is to turn 3 idealistic ideas into reality! Cool eh?! First we’ll try to recycle tires from the landfill and transform them into basketball courts in the inner city. Second project involves turning organic waste from the produce market into quality fertilizer for the agricultural sector, while employing inner city youth to collect and distribute the goods! This project also aims to be revenue neutral!

The third project is about youth mentorship through football. This is a country where the majority of kids grow up without a father and usually without a male role model in their lives. My friend Andrea and I have had the neighborhood kids for dinner at her place and it’s apparent that both parents are noticeably absent in these kids lives. The mentorship program will provide youth from inner city communities (da ghetto) with training in football coaching and peer counseling/mentorship, which will better equip them to play a positive role in mentoring the youth that look up to them. The ghettos are not with an order – it exists, but it’s controlled by a Don who uses weapons as his means of empowerment. This will hopefully plant seeds that’ll empower these youth to change the orientation of the ghetto from bottom up. Will give an update on that in a couple weeks.

August was also more positive on the personal front as well. I have a couple friends now and a couple hobbies to balance things out. I play futbol here in the community and have been out sailing a couple times a month so far. It’s been a blessing being out at sea and learning the ropes of navigating a boat. Spiritually I have more momentum these days, though it is something that starts over every morning. I’m grateful to be here to be doing what I’m doing. Obviously, there are still moments of loneliness and insecurity and so forth, but my sense of purpose here now overshadows these things as does a positive mentality most days.

For those reading this, I’d love to hear to hear what’s happening in your life! I’m not able to keep up with everyone via email, but I think of all of you here. Many wild blessing!

dpe.

p.s. - check out: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=22&x=story&xid=414882