SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Executives of the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation visited Lacovia High School last Friday for what was described as an official media launch of the 21st annual homecoming week celebrations and Students’ Empowerment Week, which ends on Friday, November 29.

Students’ Empowerment Week, now in its 17th year, is a key element of the annual homecoming celebrations. Vice-chairman of the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation Rev Godfrey Watson told his audience at Lacovia that, over the next several days, 70 “outstanding” natives of St Elizabeth will visit schools in the parish to share their experiences with students.

Activities set for the homecoming celebrations include a consultative investment forum at the JAMPRO conference centre in Kingston, on Novemnber 20, a thanksgiving service at the Williamsfield Seventh-day Adventist Church on November 23, an awards banquet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, on November 27 and an opportunities Expo at the Everglades Conference centre in Black River, November 29.

“This is a very difficult year for the Foundation in staging the Homecoming Week activities because of the lack of sponsorship due to the economic crisis being faced by Jamaicans… but the Foundation has decided that some key events should be staged,” Watson said.

He said the activities will be focused on building leadership capacity in the parish especially among young people.

Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education Dr Franklin Johnston, who was representing the minister Ronnie Thwaites at the function, reiterated the importance of vocational education and the teaching of marketable skills in high schools.

He also urged Lacovia students to empower themselves by working hard to achieve high academic standards.