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For years, coaches who wanted to be certified in advanced coaching and programme writing had to go to the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sports in order to do so. However, though GC Foster's partnership with the Sam Sharpe Teachers' College and the Bethlehem Moravian College, in collaboration with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), the short course was brought to the coaches in the rural area.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first batch of 34 graduates, programme coordinator Steve Davis applauded the initiative that he believes was a success.
"I have seen where people have left from Montego Bay to come to GC Foster College to do a course, so it was needed," Davis said. "GC Foster College, Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, and Bethlehem Moravian College have worked together in making this happen."
Davis credited acting principal and track and field head coach at GC Foster College Maurice Wilson, whose vision, which saw them also collaborating with the JOA, has done well for the eight-week course. Davis is hoping that they can continue to produce more graduates who will impact the growth and development of sports in Jamaica, especially in the rural area.
"It came about through the principal, Mr Wilson's, influence," he said. "The idea behind it is to have a greater recognition of the programme writing, which is very important to track and field training and sports training as a whole. With the involvement of the JOA, we are hoping that in the future, the collaboration will become greater in other areas of the programme, not just the advanced coaching and programme writing aspect.
"The batches at Sam Sharpe and Bethlehem are done. However, what we need is to have strong marketing to get more people involved and for the graduates to spread the word around, in social media also, and so on. At GC Foster College, most people are aware of what we do there, so they come to us for the programmes. So, as long as we have a cohort of 15 people or more, we start a programme, and we tailor it to suit the students," he added.
Article Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20181217/davis-hails-rural-area-coaching-course
Amid the crime and violence that the country is facing, some members of the Boys and Girls Production in Annotto Bay, St Mary, have decided to try to help young people deal with their anger through a movie they produced called 'Mother Cry'.
As Tadrea Davis, the director, explains, the 90-minute movie, that a young man finds himself in a gang that has negative impacts on his life and the lives of his family.
It is only through the death of one of his family members that he tries to find a way out.
Davis explains that the movie, which was shot in his hometown of Annotto Bay, will be released on January 5, 2019, and that persons will be able to go to the theatre in the town or the Annotto Bay Primary School to enjoy the local production.
"Here in Annotto Bay, we are trying to get back to the place where we can sit in the theatre we have here and watch a movie as a community, not having to worry about gunshots or any form of bad thing happening to us," Davis said.
He said that people are fearful in Annotto Bay because of killings there, but they want a safer environment for the residents in and around the community, and they think this is a good way to get things going.
Last month, Annotto Bay recorded four murders in less than 48 hours, and this is the issue that Davis said the community is battling.
Overall, St Mary has seen an increase in murders as 32 persons have been killed, compared to 22 at the same time last year.
"We not only want to help youths deal with crime, but also to help with developing the community," he said.
For Davis, it takes people to build and make a community great, and that is the aim of the members of the Boys and Girls Production.
The production group started back in 2007 and is now controlled by Davis, Nicar Clegon, Santana Reid, and Ricardo Cousin.
The production is said to be going strong, and it is projects like these that they use to try bringing people together.
"The community is very supportive of us because they like the peace and they do not like when there is too much shooting. So, we try as best as possible to keep the peace by involving community members and youths in these projects," he said.
http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20181205/st-mary-group-makes-movie-steer-youth-gangs
P.S. Tadrea Davis is currently enrolled in the Bachelor in Education Programme at the GC Foster College.
Thousands of Jamaicans from diverse social backgrounds gathered together at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus Sunday morning to "Run for Dreams " as the CB Group/UWI Scholarship 5K Run is tagged. This was the seventh renewal of the event, which seeks to fund scholarships for financially challenged and deserving students.
With a blast of red confetti and a vibrant shout, the event got under way, with participation in three principal categories: 5K Run, 5K Walk, Wheelchair and the Smart Eggs 1K for minors.
Garfield Gordon, representing GC Foster College, took the top honours in the men's overall, in a time of 15.01 minutes. He was followed by two University of Technology representatives, Shane Buchanan and Thaleetio Green, clocking 15.46 and 16.05 respectively.
The women's open run went to another GC Foster representative, Kellyanne Beckford, in 19.25, ahead of Arita Martin, of Rainforest Seafood (20.26) and GC Foster's Chrisanni May.
The walkers section was won by Duwell Allen, of Nothern Caribbean University, ahead of Lenworth Hunter and O'Shea Morgan. The women's walk event went to Abnakay Swaby with Carlene Blagrove in second and Latoya Walker, third.
The Smart Eggs Kids K saw Brandon Davis and Aneita Martin Gutzmer take the honours, while Paralympians Navardo Griffiths and Sylvia Grant topped the Wheelchair section. GC Foster were named top overall team.
UWI principal, Professor Dale Webber, thanked all the participants, patrons and sponsors for making the event a success, and spoke to the importance of partnerships in sustaining and advancing the programmes of the university.
The presentation ceremony saw special citations being presented to Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Omar McLeod and to the Jamaican Women's Football team - the Reggae Girlz who made history after becoming the first Caribbean team to qualify for the Women's World Cup, which takes place in France next year.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20181114/gordon-beckford-top-cb-groupuwi-5k-run
