Activities
Since it’s inception in 1996, the CATALYST Mission Relationship has engaged the students of Parade Gardens in various activties, which no doubt has aided the students’ development and growth, both on an academic and an emotional level.
The Photography Club
The Photo Club is one of such activities. The main purpose of forming the Club was to provide an extra-curricular activity to some of the students, who are not otherwise involved in their community due to the occasional uprise of crime and violence. Recently, however, the Club has been an avenue of expression for most of the students. Having recognized this, CATALYST continues to be strongly involved in the Club, for example by hosting regular photo competition. Consequently, the Photography Club has grown to be a well-recognized youth club in the community.
“It’s All About Me” Annual Essay Competition
Another activity that is hosted by Team CATALYST Mission Relationship is the annual “It’s All About Me” Essay Competition, which started in 2005. The personal essay is a very important aspect of the college application process, and the contest gives the students some experience in writing such an essay. CATALYST Alumni – students who have completed college in the U.S. on behalf of the Programme – judge the entries and collect money among themselves to award cash prizes.
Annual Work Trip
Each year, Team CATALYST host a Work Trip in downtown Kingston. The main purpose of the trip is to receive an update and assess the student’s academic performance for the year. It is also during this trip that the Directors meet and discuss the plans for the coming year with the Grace and Staff Board Members.
The Mentorship Programme
From the above it seems that the CATALYST Administrators are in Jamaica for only a couple of weeks. So, how can they know the students on a personal level, so that they can help them to the full extent that they want to? Sure, they can email them. And there are Grace & Staff employees and Mr. Curtis Sweeney – Counsellor, but Ms. Biggers thought that these were not enough. Thus, the Mentorship Program was initiated. In the Program, each student is assigned with a mentor – a employee throughout GraceKennedy Group of Companies. This initiative was so successful that Grace & Staff employees adopted this idea for all their students. And a manual was prepared by Curtis Sweeney.