The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“The mind of the painter must resemble a mirror, which always takes the colour of the object it reflects and is completely occupied by the images of as many objects as are in front of it.”- Leonardo da Vinci. Perhaps, you are like me. The fact is I could not even draw stick objects. Yes, it was that bad. However, as one gets older one tendd to appreciate art much more, especially given the role art plays in keeping us balanced. Art plays a very important role in our lives, whether we realize it or not. It promotes creativity, diversity, and innovation, and encourages people to start conversations about their interests and share knowledge with each other, opening horizons, and making us look at things in different ways. World Art Day is observed on April 15, the birthday of the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci. This day was established by the International Association of Art, to raise worldwide attention to the work of international artists, and the ways of creative expression that ex

“I think we all wear some kind of mask. There are masks that shield us from others, but there are masks that embolden us, and you see that in carnival.”- Edwidge Danticat. It has been a few days since the staging of Jamaica Carnival on April 7th. However, most of us are still unable to rid our minds of some of the costumed revelers who have left an indelible impression on the psyche of the nation. The carnival post-mortem has been making the rounds on social media and some of the comments have been harsh and uncomplimentary. It is quite evident that some amount of body shaming took place especially as it relates to a few plus size revelers who were skimpily clad and who left nothing to the imagination. The photographs in question was that of two plump, middle aged women who apparently went to have fun on their own terms and fun they did have. Some might argue that they had too much fun. The comments were harsh regarding their body sizes and the costumes they wore. Tongues were le

“A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.”- Robert A. Heinlein. Our authentic culture is slowly dying. Centuries of interactions grounded in our history of enslavement and colonialism have shaped what we now refer to as the Jamaican culture. The values and attitudes of the old Jamaica are slowly being replaced by divisive and negative ideals. Integrity and morality are no longer seen as worthwhile principles; instead the get rich by any means dictum has become the altar of success. Today’s students know more about their neighours in the North than they do about their rich culture. The teaching of history education remains optional and this without a doubt is just one of the contributing factors for this new Jamaican culture. The powerful cultural forces from the North have penetrated and saturated our culture in all its facets.

“Health is a basic human right. Everyone should be able to access quality health services whenever & wherever they need them.” - United Nations. Around the world, the right to health of millions is increasingly coming under threat. Diseases and disasters loom large as causes of death and disability. Conflicts are devastating lives, causing death, pain, hunger and psychological distress. The World Health Organization (WHO) Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution. Yet, countries are not passing and implementing laws to ensure their citizens are entitled to access health services. This underpins the fact that at least 4.5 billion people more than half of the world’s population were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021. World Health Day (WHD) is celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The obse

“To measure the success of our societies, we should examine how well those with different abilities, including persons with autism, are integrated as full and valued members.”- Ban Ki-Moon. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide about 1 in 100 children have autism. While autism can present challenges and hurdles, it also brings unique strengths and perspectives. Every April Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. This day serves as a critical reminder of the millions of individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The day is set aside to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and celebrate the unique strengths and experiences of autistic people. The theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2024 is "Moving from Surviving to Thriving: Autistic Individuals share regional perspectives" . This theme goes beyond just raising awareness of autism. It emphasizes

Without a doubt the recently held ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships (Champs) was a huge success. In fact, this annual athletic display has been attracting various teams from some of our Caribbean neighbours. Many of the student athletes who gained success at Champs will be future Olympians. However, Champs is not all about winning. The yearly event has become a part of Brand Jamaica and should be viewed as a vehicle for the promotion of sports diplomacy. Sports Diplomacy (SD) has become increasingly important to the countries for their different reasons. In particular, SD has proved to boost national branding, attractiveness and global reputation. Examples of SD’s contribution to these goals can be found both in academic frameworks and in various discussions of the strategic objectives of many countries worldwide. For example, China’s approach regarding sanitizing its image as hosts of the 2008 Olympic Games. More recently, China adopted “The medium- and long-term Devel

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay."- St. Matthew 28:5-6. Easter is without a doubt the most significant of all the religious observances in Christianity. Easter, is the principal festival of the Christian church which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His Crucifixion. Easter is a time for restoration and reflection. Easter brings renewal regarding our faith and journey with Christ. Christ's resurrection is much more than an event. For Jesus, it was a person. “I am the Resurrection” as in St. John 11:25. The Resurrection is a process that began from the moment Christ was born. The season promotes hope for humanity despite of all the wars and conflicts throughout the world. Thankfully, Easter provides a soothing and calming disposition that allows us to self examine where we are i