Brent, Sterling Foundation sponsor youth trip to Jamaica

LONDON:

A group of young people from north-west London boosted their employment and social mobility prospects recently, following a life-enhancing trip to Jamaica.

The cultural exchange experience was forged by the charity of Jamaican footballer, Raheem Sterling.

The Raheem Sterling Foundation, Young Brent Foundation and talkSPORT collaborated to arrange the opportunity for 15 young people from Brent, the community where Sterling lived after emigrating to London at the age of five.

The Brent Goes Global initiative organised the 10-day trip to Jamaica, which allowed the Brent youth to collaborate with youngsters from the Marcus Garvey Technical High School, in Ocho Rios.

Workshop topics included farming, cooking, teaching, sports, dance and IT skills.

Commenting on the impact of the initiative, Sterling said: “To see this group of extraordinary young people experiencing this life changing trip to Jamaica is truly amazing, and I’m so proud that the Foundation has been able to arrange this incredible opportunity in my homeland of Jamaica.”

The Brent Goes Global project is a newly launched initiative to strengthen future career paths of young people, through community-established social action projects, exploration of new cultures and by making intercultural friendships.

Clive Ellington, chair of trustees for the Raheem Sterling Foundation agreed with footballer’s endorsement. He said: “We’re delighted to have played a part in providing an extraordinary experience for this remarkable group of young people from Brent.

“Raheem has a deep connection to Jamaica, the country of his birth, making this project especially meaningful to us.

“This incredible journey has not only offered a chance for the group to forge international friendships and immerse themselves in a new culture and community, but also equipped them with skills that will last a lifetime.”

He added: “We feel privileged to have collaborated with the Young Brent Foundation, whose mission and values align so closely with our own. And we’re proud to have supported these young individuals in this life-changing opportunity.”

STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM

Organisers say the experience allowed the youngsters to better understand the Jamaican national motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’, which alludes to the varied ethnic groups living in Jamaica.

It is expected that the benefits of Jamaica’s multi-culturalism could be applied to the context of the many cultural communities in Brent.

On their return to Brent, a young person for the group shared their insight on the trip:

“It was an amazing experience that not only helped me learn a lot about the country, culture and people but also helped me learn a lot about myself.

“I would highly recommend this trip to everyone as it widens your knowledge, understanding and sympathy for others halfway around the world.”

Another youth said: “I had a lot of fun exploring the environment and having the freedom to do so; spending time with new people and getting to know each other.

“There was a very strong support system throughout the trip, offering an invaluable opportunity to learn from each other too.”

While planning the trip to Jamaica the group took part in 20 informative and fun workshops, to develop their personal and social skills. The workshops were led by youth workers, guest speakers and industry experts.

Experiences in Jamaica were documented across a series of seven podcasts. Each broadcast focused on a principle which guides the work of the Raheem Sterling Foundation, including enterprise and social mobility.

Chris Murray, CEO of Young Brent Foundation said: “We’re thrilled to have received the support and vision of the Raheem Sterling Foundation, to enable these exceptional young people to volunteer their time and energies in Jamaica this year.

“It was an incredible experience to see this group of eight girls and seven boys grow as a collective, support each other as a team, and learn how to reflect upon their individual future ambitions.

“As we look to recruit for year two of Brent Goes Global, I cannot thank the Raheem Sterling Foundation enough for their vision and commitment to this process. “

He added: “By creating the space for these young people to achieve, we’re opening doors for them to pursue their goals in any field they desire and prove that there are no barriers to success once they believe they can.”