Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
Twenty young persons from inner-city communities are currently participating in a digital photo summer workshop under the theme 'To shoot or not to shoot ... Click is the Answer.'
Participants aged 14 to 16 were selected from communities which fall under the Violence Prevention Alliance's (VPA) 'Safe Commun-ities Initiative'.
The communities include Mountain View, Rose Town, Dunkirk and Trench Town, and the youngsters, according to VPA chairman professor Barry Chev-annes, "have begun an exciting journey through this programme."
Professor Chevannes said the arts project, which is the brainchild of celebrated Jamaican photographer Albert Chong, results from "the desire to promote the art form in Jamaica to counteract the culture of violence that is becoming entrenched."
He said the collaborative project between primary sponsors Super Plus, Jamaica Creative Artists Action Network (JCAN) and the VPA, is aimed at developing a sustainable programme that pro-vides opportunities for young people from violence-prone communities.
Creative talent
"We want to develop their creative talent and identify career opportunities, as they explore and experiment using photography and art, not only as a medium of self- expression and development, but also as a means to promote attitudinal change, self-knowledge and empowerment," explained Professor Chevannes.
Under the expert guidance of Albert Chong, the 'photo journey' will take the youngsters, the majority of whom are males, on trips throughout the island.
In addition to photography skills, the young persons are being exposed to local culture and history through field trips to the National Gallery, Castleton Gardens, Reggae Explo-sion museum and Sting Ray City in Ocho Rios and Oracabessa, respec-tively. They will also tour The Gleaner Company.
