Youth Reaching Youth offers education with a twist

Markland McFarlane, a former Youth Reaching Youth (YRY) graduate, says he will definitely be attending Sour Grapes’, the fund raising play being put on by the Swallowfield Chapel educational outreach on October 18, 2019. Markland is one of over 500 students to have benefited from the inspirational programme offered through Youth Reaching Youth.

When Markland McFarlane first enrolled in Youth Reaching Youth, he never imagined his life would have been so positively impacted. He was simply trying to complete some additional subjects, and as a young Christian, the school had been recommended by his mentor as one that would hone not only his academic skills, but his spiritual acumen as well.

Two years later, not only had he accomplished his academic goals,but he graduated a confident, well-adjusted individual who has been able to successfully navigate through the world of work. This he attributes to his enlightening experiences with YRY.

According to McFarlane, the curriculum provides opportunities to engage in the performing arts, public speaking and numerous other confidence-building activities that place you in front of students across the island.

“It was so exciting. We were constantly being challenged to step outside of our comfort zones, and encouraged to build up our fellow students, so we all became better”.

Different take

Swallowfield Chapel’s Youth Reaching Youth programme offers a slightly different take on the educational journey, incorporating the spiritual and the creative arts alongside regular studies.

The programme that started in 2001 encourages the holistic development of students and positions them as youth leaders.

The non-profit Swallowfield Outreach Ministry offers a two-year leadership training programme for young people aged 16-23 years, geared towards empowering Christian youth in education, life coping skills,creative arts, character building, goal-setting initiatives and evangelism strategies with the sole aim of delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ to youth throughout Jamaica and the region.

Sour Grapes is part of the fundraising efforts of the organisation.

The play, written by Craig McNally, is a dramatic production about God’s power to transform our sour grapes into sweet lemonade.

Tickets available at Swallowfield Chapel. For more information call 876-920-6317.

Sour Grapes, a dramatic production about God’s power to transform our sour grapes into sweet lemonade.

Friday, October 18, 2019,

Swallowfield Chapel, 7:00 p.m.