Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2006, Kaysia Jonhnson. - Contributed

Kaysia Johnson, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2006, launched a community project on Friday, October 20 at the Clark's Town Primary School in Trelawny.

The theme of the project is: Building future leaders: motivating youth through mentorship". There will be discussions on adult sexual reproductive health, values and attitudes, healthy lifestyle, leadership and the importance of building a balanced individual. These discussions are aimed at educating youngsters between the ages of 10 and 24 years, on these social issues. There will also be a series of workshops.

Some of the social issues dominant in the community of Clark's Town are: teenage pregnancy, smoking and violence. Miss Johnson who is from the parish, believes the young people in the community need an avenue where all their energies can be channelled in a positive manner.

As a part of a festival queen's duties, she has to participate in and be identified with cultural activities and community projects. The main thrust of a festival queen competition is to get young women to be more aware of the contribution they can make to the community and nation building.

Past queens such as radio personality, Jennifer 'Jenny-Jenny' Small, medical doctor and television presenter, Dr. Taneisha McGhie, Miss Dahlia Harris, Dr. Marsha Barrett and last year's queen Sashane McDonald, have been involved in community projects even beyond those commissioned during their reign. They have worked on projects that dealt with issues such as HIV/AIDS, juvenile delinquency, the environment and the elderly.