D&G Foundation shines light on Majesty Gardens

Popularly known as ‘Back-To’ in Majesty Gardens, Kingston, is often dismissed as a volatile community with few opportunities for its residents. Working to change that reality is the Majesty Gardens Youth and Sports Club (MGYSC), which is focusing on community development and youth empowerment. With support from corporate entities like the Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) Foundation, the club is getting ready to embark on an improvement project which will benefit scores of young people in the community.

“Knowing that the community is prone to crime and violence, we want to engage the youths in constructive activities. So we provide skills training, scholarship opportunities, homework programmes and computer classes. We have also developed a robust sporting programme that allows community members to participate in football, basketball, cricket and netball . We look forward to expanding these activities so that we can reach more young people,” said Paul Williams, founder and president of the community group.

Williams pointed to plans to install a new lighting system for the club grounds as well as the refurbishment of the perimeter fence for the multipurpose court, and noted its potential impact.“This will make a huge difference. We are happy that more than 200 young people have already benefited from activities carried out by the club; and we know once the work is completed, it will be even better,” said Williams.

The planned project will be done with the help of the D&G Foundation through a donation of $100,000 as part of the company’s ‘100 For A Century’ centennial campaign launched in 2018. The MGYSC was among 56 beneficiaries, selected through a partnership with The Gleaner, who received a share of the $5.6-million pool of funds.

“Community upliftment is one of the pillars on which the D&G Foundation stands, and achieving that goal through sports and academics is a creative and sustainable way to do that. We believe that these avenues can create countless opportunities for the youth of Majesty Gardens, so we are happy to support them in whatever area they need so they can expand their reach,” noted Dianne Ashton-Smith, board member of the D&G Foundation.

This first phase of the improvement project is set to be completed by March of this year. Majesty Gardens residents can now look forward to feeling safer and more secure on the club grounds as persons will not be able to wander on to the property during club activities. The upgrades will also enhance the aesthetics of the community and help to m,ake it feel more like a haven in the neighbourhood.

“Investing in our sports programme has also paid off, as the club’s basketball team experienced a successful year, most notably winning the 2018 Southern Conference League. Not only was winning a big deal for everyone in the club, but also the fact that the team was given the opportunity to play one of the final games in Jamaica. We are currently preparing for the National Basketball League,” said Williams.

Among the team members is 26-year-old Renford Rookwood, who has been playing basketball with the MGYSC since he was a teenager as a means to keep away from the violence in the community. Committing to the sport has given him invaluable exposure and training opportunities.

“Basketball has helped me to establish and focus on my goals, make friends and stay out of trouble,” said Rookwood. “Through the sport, I got a scholarship to play for the Hydel Group of Schools, so it was an added bonus being able to play a sport I love while getting a high-school education. It is not always easy living in Majesty Gardens, but thanks to the club, I have valuable experiences in basketball and I look forward to travelling and playing internationally.”

Established in 2001, the MGYSC has made strides in influencing positive change among the youth in the community. With more plans to extend the reach of the organisation, Williams looks forward to inspiring more young people as they create brighter hopes for the neighbourhood.