Advertorial | Children inspired by Caterpillars Can Fly song for Child’s Month

One of the best gifts that Jamaica's children received for Child's Month this year is the affirmation that greatness lies within them, and they can achieve their goals regardless of their current circumstances.

The inspiring words came from dancehall artiste Agent Sasco and his nine-year-old daughter Lauren “The LC Show” Campbell in their new song Caterpillars Can Fly.

The song, inspired by Alvin Day's If Caterpillars Can Fly So Can I transformational workbook, perfectly complements this year's Child's Month theme – 'I Strive to Overcome Adversities with Resilience (ISOAR)'.

The father-daughter collaboration premiered on National Children's Day, May 21, as thousands of grade-six students across the island prepared to sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination.

“I was born with everything I need to be me; with wings inside my mind to set me free,” the track, posted to YouTube with an easy-to-follow lyric video, begins.

“I know that I've got vision more than my eyes can see, and I know I rule my destiny. So no matter how hard you try. You can never change my mind. I know if caterpillars can fly, so can I.”

In addition to being posted by both Agent Sasco and The LC Show on social media, the song was premiered by the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information (MoEYI) during their live Children's Hour broadcast on the same day and posted on the Ministry's Social Media pages.

In a recent interview, Agent Sasco (given name Jeffrey Campbell) conveyed that after reading Day's book, he realised that he also shares a number of the principles and values explored by the Clarendon-born author.

“The real purpose of the song is to be a kind of musical summary of the book. I would hope that it can evoke the kind of inspiration and empowerment that the book delivers,” Agent Sasco said.

The song was produced by Sasco's Diamond Studios, with music by Elton Brown, Christopher Birch, Sherieta Lewis and Chevaughn Clayton.

The lyric video was created by Sasco's sister, Kera Campbell, director of Sairplay.

Meanwhile, The LC Show, who explored her own amazing vocal range in this soul-stirring song, was grateful for the opportunity to spread her wings.

“Thank you daddy for letting me fly on this one,” she gushed on Instagram.

This is not the prodigy's first flight.

The young performer has made musical appearances on Bounty Killer's Freedom and her dad's Blessed, and released her debut single 'I'm a Foodie' featuring her younger brother Joshua “Weezy” Campbell three years ago.

Weezy was spotted reading fluently from Day's empowering book back in March.

“Do you ever wish you had the power to change the world, or even the life of just one person? You do have the power. The single most important power you have is the ability to change yourself. When you are transformed, the world will change, and the lives of many people around you will be affected as well,” he orated with conviction.

Earlier this month, Alvin Day, who emerged from humble beginnings as a barrel-child in rural Jamaica, gifted over 26,000 digital copies of 'If Caterpillars Can Fly So Can I' to Jamaican educators on Teacher's Day.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams, speaking at the virtual handing over of the books on Read Across Jamaica Day, said: “I read this book a few years ago and I still remember it to this day. We know that caterpillars can't fly, but they do go through a process of change so that they become beautiful butterflies, and that's the essence of his book.”

The thoughtful gift was received well by the teachers, some of whom already had their hard copies and were sharing the life-changing content with their students.

Several schools already had the transformational workbook as part of their Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) and Personal Development (PD) curricula.

Alvin Day thanked the dedicated teachers for moulding and preparing him to sprout wings while he was cocooned in Clarendon, and shared his work to encourage the educators as they navigate these uncertain times. “Take solace in the fact that in your hands you have the next generation,” he urged.

“Treat them well. Do everything that you can, because they think of you as a parent, friend, counsellor and guide. You have an important role in shaping the next generation and I want to encourage you, when the pain is hard, remember that you too have wings and you can fly.”

Watch Caterpillars Can Fly by Agent Sasco and The LC Show Lyric Video here.

'If Caterpillars Can Fly So Can I' is available for sale online at Amazon and on Kindle (US $9.97), as well as in bookstores across Jamaica.

Visit https://www.alvinday.com for more information.