MINISTER of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange has been full of praise for actress Terri Salmon’s YARD (Youth for Arts and Recreational Development) Empire’s successful engagement with UNESCO.

In less than a mere few months Salmon has tied up a substantial programme of initiatives, using the success of the most talented youth in her music classes to, not only win the admiration of people like herself and her board of directors led by public accountant Orville Hill, but also to secure the support of the minister and some parents as well as financial support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through its locally based specialist in culture, Yuri Peshkov.

Peshkov was full of praise for the effort, confirming that the programme is a unique and good tool through which countries in the region can apply for UNESCO funding.

“When this project came on my table I said, ‘You know, this is excellent. This is a perfect project. This is something that we really need to support.’ So, of course, it is something that we really want to continue with,” he added.

Grange commended the entire YARD Empire team for “the excellent work” it has been doing in a highly volatile area of capital city Kingston through Changing the Score: A Performing Arts Intervention to Empower At-Risk Youth Ending Gender-Based Violence for Community Renewal.

“It cannot be overstated the importance of intervention programmes aimed at at-risk groups in our society, in particular boys,” she told guests attending the handover exercise at UNESCO’s head office in the former Air Jamaica building on Harbour Street.

Grange, who also chairs the Jamaica National Commission (JNC) for UNESCO, said YARD Empire was worthy and even more deserving of receiving one of the four awards granted to Jamaica under the 2022-2023 UNESCO Participation Programme.

The result was the presentation of a number of new instruments — including conga drums, guitars, keyboards and trap drum set — to Yard Empire.

Grange welcomed all in attendance at the function, which she felt would serve to strengthen the links by providing funding to carry out important projects.

She also noted that, in the past five years, YARD Empire has conducted theatre arts intervention programmes targeting at-risk youth, with a special focus on boys. However, since 2019 the emphasis has been on learning to play musical instruments as well as education on ending gender-based violence.

Grange pointed out that YARD Empire youth have made their presence felt by placing in the top three of the community-based essay competition which focused on violence reduction.

The minister reminded the audience that through the influence of the performing arts the project has been focusing on at-risk youth in an area of central Kingston, in the heart of the capital city, known as Parade Gardens which has experienced a high level of violence over the years.

Grange also reminded them that years ago she was not only a political candidate in the area at the height of the violence, but had become aware of the need to help develop the youth into useful citizens, steering them away from activities such as gang violence.

“The ills of gender-based violence [were] highlighted to encourage participants to do all that they could do to help to reduce its occurrence in their homes and the wider community,” she noted.

She said it is expected that over the next few months the recruits, primarily from Parade Gardens, will avail themselves of the opportunity to learn a new skill, which could lead them to a career in the performing arts and to become positive influences on their peers.

The commision’s Programme Manager Dr Maria Smith informed the room that the grants from UNESCO had allowed the commission to do a lot of things across Jamaica.

“It is a biennial programme so every two years community groups, individuals, and government agencies can apply for a grant,” she said.

She stated that the grants are in different areas, but to access them will require that the request be paired with a project.

She also congratulated YARD Empire for submitting a successful project that could earn a grant which could be utilised in different areas — including specialists, consultants, study grants, fellowships for public education and documents, as well as for conferences and seminars and training programmes.

Salmon recalled that recently, two young members of YARD Empire who entered the international Associate Board Royal School of Music (ABRSM) examinations, level three, playing the soprano recorder were awarded for winning with merits.

She additionally noted that YARD Empire also entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competition (in the area of music) over the past two years, winning gold medals at the parish level in playing the guitar and recorder. In April two of the students won the national trophy for Best Recorder Ensemble.

“It has not been an easy road. There are times I am so overwhelmed that I feel like crying, but there are no tears. When I feel like I could give up I am reminded that these youngsters are relying on me to help them realise their full potential and use their God-given talent to the best of their abilities,” she told guests.

“I am grateful to UNESCO for the support they have given to YARD Empire. With the funding we will continue to press ahead and make a difference in the lives of these children,” she concluded.

The function was chaired by Everton Hannam, secretary general of JNC for UNESCO.