Radio programme rewards youth achievement

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

In an effort to acknowledge students for their good achievements, radio personality Steve 'Level Up' Douglas has started a segment on his show called 'School Buss'.

Douglas has a programme called 'Level Up The Music: In The Mood' that he hosts with Chip Smith which is aired on One Caribbean Radio 97.9 HD2 in New York or online at onecaribbeanradio.com.

After hosting the show for some time, Douglas said he decided to add another element to the show. This came in the form of 'School Buss', aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7 and 8 a.m.

"It is a programme I started on my show. It is a real energetic show with about 700,000 people logged on. From the show started, it's been getting a lot of feedback all over the world," he said.

"I decided to incorporate students. You highlight students from all over the world for their great school achievement. There is a lot of peer pressure, so maintaining your grades and doing good work deserves acknowledgement. It's not just about doing good work, it is also about being consistent."

Noting that the good work is not limited to academics, Douglas said: "I think there is a great need for children to be acknowledged because you give them a boost. You don't need money, just encourage."

Prizes to be won

To be part of the show, students send an e-mail to schoolbussmedia@gmail.com with information about themselves that can be verified. After that is done, Douglas says a student is selected weekly and given the opportunity to speak on the show. Of the students who are called, one or all of them get the opportunity to win prizes from the sponsors. Some of the prizes include computers, iPods, vouchers for their school fees or any tool that is needed to help them excel in their work.

Since the segment started about two months ago, Douglas said there have been entries from South Africa, United States, Australia, Jamaica and the United Kingdom.

Doing his part most of the time from Jamaica, he said he wants to get Jamaican citizens, the Government and media involved.

Thanking the media houses who have been giving support, Douglas said more assistance is still needed to keep 'School Buss' going.

"We want to capture the Jamaican audience, that's the next big step," Douglas told The Gleaner, adding that Sizzla's Read And Write is being used as the theme song for the show.