THREE months after successfully defending his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with high commendations at The University of the West Indies, Mona, 28-year-old Dr Kirt Henry has added another accolade to his collection. He is one of two recipients of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence (PMYAE) in the field of academics, cementing him as a trailblazer in his field. His PhD was in Cultural Studies, with an emphasis on revivalism.

Receiving the PMYAE was an emotional experience, he told the Jamaica Observer.

“I had to hold back the tears. To have been selected by the prime minister of Jamaica to receive the highest national honour bestowed on youth in the country was truly a remarkable feeling. It also was a reassuring feeling to know that the hard work and sacrifice put in to accomplish my achievements were recognised by my country. Truthfully, I do not think I am even able to accurately describe how I felt but what I will say is that it was a bittersweet moment for me,” he said after last Saturday evening’s event.

The young researcher and lecturer, who is an alumnus of José Marti Technical High School, used his moment of glory to reflect on his upbringing in an inner-city community in Spanish Town, highlighting the notion that success is achievable, irrespective of a person’s address.

“I thought about the youth, especially those I grew up with in Shelter Rock, Spanish Town, who were not able to reach nor maximise their full potential because of crime and violence, lack of support and mentorship, limited resources, among other things. But I also felt in that moment of accomplishment that this award is proof and testament to all youth — especially those in inner-city communities — that it doesn’t matter where you are from; it is where you’re going that is important. I do hope that this award will serve as a symbol of hope and inspiration to young Jamaicans to continue to push towards their dreams,” he urged.

Despite being one of 19 recipients from a pool of 60 shortlisted nominees, Henry admitted that he did not believe he possessed the capacity to even apply for the award, but he developed the confidence after discussions with key people in his life.

“After a few of my friends received the PMYAE my interest in this national recognition grew, but I thought that I was not good enough to apply or even be considered. After speaking with close friends and mentors I started to reflect on the work that I have been doing, along with the impact and contributions that I have been making to the development of my country. It was then that I started to build a case to support my nomination…, thereby gaining the confidence I needed,” he explained to the Observer.

He added, “To have been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s [National] Youth Awards for Excellence was a significant moment in my life. It certainly served as motivation for me to know that I was actually being considered as a suitable candidate for one of the awards in my category.”

Henry noted that the nomination process reminded him of the passion he has for his field of study as well as the development of his country.

“The process in gathering the documents to support my nomination was one that allowed me to reflect on my achievements. You see, I have always told those closest to me that the work I do is not about acquiring recognition and fame, but I do what I do because of my passion. I simply followed my passion and this is the result of my passion. There was a sense of pride and humility as I gathered and reviewed my documents, in seeing that I was able to positively contribute to the development of my nation through my academic pursuits,” he said.

Henry is a public speaker and activist for the research and documentation, retention, and preservation of Jamaica’s artistic and cultural expressive forms. For the World Expo in Dubai he was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to be a cultural ambassador who promoted and shared with visitors to the Jamaica pavilion the country’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. He was also among contributors interviewed for a documentary on revivalism as part of a push to have it included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2020.

Acknowledging that the PMYAE is not only because of his hard work, Henry dedicates it to two important women who have played an integral role in his success.

“First, I recognise my mother, Nadine Allen-Delancy. It is because of her upbringing and love why I am able to have reached this far. From the foundation of my academic ambitions she has been my cheerleader — and I want to salute her for all the hard work and sacrifices that she made. I also dedicate this award to Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah, a woman who saw my potential and made a decision to mentor and nurture me. The investment these women and others made in me will continue to foster my growth. In this moment I must pause to reflect also on the sacrifices my ancestors made to have cleared this path for me. It is on their shoulders that I continue to stand,” said Henry.

He is also grateful to Roxanne Silent, Dr Lisa Tomlinson, and Simone Williams who were integral in the nomination process for his award.