History
The Seaview Gardens Youth Council (S.G.Y.C.) is a central body that seeks to represent all youth organizations in the community. Presently, it consists of over 30 dynamic members who are determined to effectively plan, organize and execute activities geared towards youth empowerment and ultimately community transformation.
The S.G.Y.C is the brain child of ‘community visionary’, Mrs. Coreen Dennis, Justice of the Peace. Having resided in this community for over twenty-five years, she has interacted with young people in every sphere. Concerned with the seemingly aimlessness of many, the persistent disunity between the different sections of the community, and the lack of consistent social interventions, she recognized the need for a movement that will forge links thus creating a path for unity, peace, mutual respect, community development and prosperity. This group, she insisted, must comprise residents of both phases and all sections.
Recognizing that such a task needed divine guidance and direction, she prayed earnestly for the right persons to embrace the vision. In November 2006, the quest for purposeful, energetic and academically inclined young people begun. Steadily the number of interested persons grew and the first official meeting was held on January 27, 2007.
Council’s Mandate
To construct constructing six (6) recreational parks and play areas at strategic locations throughout the community.
To establish formally organized and structured youth clubs within the community.
To host workshops/seminars aimed at sensitizing, educating and equipping the youths for service and success.
To produce a magazine that will highlight positive events and aspects of the community, thus eroding the stigma placed on the community.
Council’s Objectives
1. To establish the Council as having the authority to enforce national standards for the functioning of Youth Clubs as stipulated by the Social Development Commission.
2. To compile a written manual to be used in the youth clubs which outlines code of conduct, code of ethics, parliamentary procedures, minutes recording and bookkeeping procedures, etc.
3. To make proposals to, liaison and negotiate with Government and Non-Government agencies, Private Sector and the general public on matters relating to the youths in the community.
4. To establish a communication network that will mobilize the youths and disseminate information to the various affiliate clubs.
5. To plan and coordinate activities through workshops/seminars that are aimed at nurturing positive attitudes and behaviours necessary for personal and community development.
6. To print quarterly editions of ‘The View”, a community based magazine that highlights the potentials, efforts, pursuits, achievements and general happenings of the community and its residents.
7. To enhance the physical environment by constructing and maintaining six (6) recreational parks and play areas.
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Impact on the Community
The Seaview Gardens Youth Council, in its motto: Empowering Youth for Community Transformation is the intended impact. The youths are the future and if we can empower them, then over a period of time the community will be transformed. This transformation is one from a crime infested and desolate community to a more unified and self-aware community. The community has seen and has engaged in a myriad of activities and projects either coordinated or facilitated by the Council. These range from teen camps, to clean up activities, to competitions. In our everyday interaction with the residents we see a great level of support. But the Council is cognizant of a greater support lying with the non-responding residents. Social interventions are the most effective in igniting unity and volunteerism in the people, especially the youths. In retrospect, Seaview Gardens has had an era where youth clubs were a core engagement for youths in the community. Now, they are adults in dismay, knowing that their community is in a state of moral degradation and broken spirits. It’s a present day reality for many communities and the Council believes that its time to take control and lead the residents into a more hopeful future.
The Council is always in the phase of effecting change, and so, at this stage our activities speak to much of what has been done and the impression that is being carved in the minds of residents Seaview Gardens. Below shows, in chronological order, the activities and projects of the Council to date:
2011
Talent Show & Raffle Grand 2011- April 30, 2011
Youth Club Leadership Workshop- February 27, 2011
2010
Re-structure of the Council- Official Meeting September 1, 2010
Summer Teen Camp – Residential (River’s Edge St. Mary) August 15 – 22,
JPS Street Lights Survey for Seaview Gardens 2010 [update]- January to February 2010
2009
Community Relations Officer attended the South and North Youth Policy Project (S.N.Y.P.P) Conference- New Directions for Food Security: a South-North Youth Perspective, hosted by the Jamaican Self-Help, held in Peterborough, Ontario Canada, May 3 – 7, 2009
Summer Teen Camp- Residential (River’s Edge St. Mary)
Clean up- Clearing of Park Area and Refurbishing of the Early Childhood Education Basic School
Bicycle Extravaganza in the community
2008
Youth Club Leadership 2008 workshop- facilitated by SDC
‘Sea the View’ - clean up and tree planting in the community- coordinated by the St. Patrick’s Foundation All Stars Marching Band (May 17 – 18, 2008)
S.G.Y.C. Labour Day Clean up and Tree Planting project
JASTYLE/SDC Sports and Arts Extravaganza- 2008 (1st prize to Card Unit Dance Group, 2nd Domino Tournament)
Teen Summer Camp in coordination with the Seaview Gardens Primary School - Non residential Camp
Surveys and Proposals: Homework and Resource Centre, Unfinished Building in Phase 2, Recreational Parks, Summer Camp
Community Relations Officer attended the South and North Youth Policy Project (S.N.Y.P.P)- Steering Committee formation and meeting held in Nandaime Nicaragua, hosted by Centro Comunitario Oscar Arnulfo Romero (CCOR) Organization, August 25 – 28, 2008
Published 500 copies of the first issue of The View- community magazine
Media appearances: Smile Jamaica TVJ & Radio Station (Roots FM)- introducing ‘The View’ a community based magazine
2007
JPS Street Lights Survey for Seaview Gardens 2007
Survey/Market Research for ‘ The View’- Community based magazine
Three Miles Development Area Run Off- Sports Day- Hosted by SGYC in Seaview Gardens
Walkathon for the SGYC- 5.3 miles
Hope 2007 Cleanup- Three Miles Area
Community Coin Drives [periodical]
Clearing Land to be used in Construction of a Park/Green area for the Children of the community
Medallion Hall Hotel Car Park Painting
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