OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has established the Rex Nettleford Foundation in memory of the outstanding Caribbean icon who died in early February.
The foundation will support scholars and programmes that promote the strengthening of West Indian society in the areas of social and cultural development through research, community services and intellectual excellence.

The finale of Kumina, Rex Nettleford's signature piece by the Jamaican National Dance Theatre Company. NDTC PHOTO

It will be mandated to produce young leaders who grasp the importance of public service, based on integrity, protection for the weak and the energy to use their talents for the betterment of humankind.

Sir Shridath Ramphal, chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies, has been named chairman of the foundation.

Outstanding Carib citizen

Sir Shridath, who was the UWI chancellor during Professor Nettleford’s term of office as vice chancellor, is an outstanding Caribbean citizen who served as Commonwealth secretary general from 1975 to 1990.

He has also made a significant contribution to the Caribbean educational progress.

In his tribute on the passing of Ralston Milton ‘Rex’ Nettleford, Sir Shridath described him as: “An incandescent eagle because of the power and flight of his vision. We shall not see his like again.”

Born in Falmouth, Nettleford graduated from Cornwall College in Montego Bay before going to the UWI to obtain an honours degree in history.

He was a recipient of the 1957 Rhodes Scholarship to Oriel College, Oxford, where he received a postgraduate degree in politics, and returned to Jamaica in the early 1960s to take up a position at the University of the West Indies.

In 1963 he founded the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, an ensemble which, under his direction, did much to incorporate traditional Jamaican music and dance into a formal balletic repertoire.

An official launch of the Rex Nettleford Foundation is being planned for a date to be announced.

Interestingly many persons, and suffice to say journalists are unaware of their career choices as creative expressions. Needless to say there are several careers where the Arts are either utilised and or applied, or simply are creative expressions within themselves.

NEWSPAPER in DESIGN: Page designed by the Gleaner’s Children Own employs visual and literary skills by the paginator

NEWSPAPER in DESIGN: A page from the Gleaner's Children Own employs visual and literary skills.

CLICK to READ: Three funfilled days of OAaSIS – May 24, 2010: Permission must be sought from the Gleaner company of the owners of this site before downloads are done

For printed media there are at least 20 careers starting with the actual interview (literary arts), writing (literary arts), especially for feature articles and even paginating (visual arts), or layout of pages.
For broadcast, there is consideration for application of one’s creativity to conducting interviews, and reporting so succintly in the set time alloted. There are the advertisements which employs at least two or all three main forms which are literary, performing and visual.

Journalists as with any other field not directly related to the Arts collectively who understand the mechanisms, elements of Arts and Creativity and of course how to apply to their fields are more successful.
It is with a better understandin g of more than what meets one at the surface and how to creatively compete which often yield dynamic results, and places the person in a position to stay buoyant with positive competion. Hence the business or company ultimately benefits.

Here are a few references from media coverage, on the OAaSIS International. The content will be interesting, but care must be taken too in understanding how the elements of arts and creativity were employed as tools to add appeal.

PLEASE CLICK ANY OF THE LINKS
TVJ features OAaSIS on Smile Jamaica, Its Morning Time programme
Please click to read Allman Town Primary paints for Bank of Jamaica – January 31, 2010: Before you dare to download this please obtain permission

The material have been uploaded to be used for reference with the kind permission of the Gleaner Company and CVM, in support of OAaSIS and its thrust.

Join a dynamic network of creative souls for empowering others on and through the Arts, Culture, Creativity here on this site, Let’s be extraordinaire and super impacting together instead of being just plain ordinary apart. Keep this site alive by placing an inexpensive advertisement on this site or investing your funds through a contribution (See sponsorship and promotions tier chart).

Following the deft impact of the creative workshop series, management of the OAaSIS International is partnering with Pickney International in its creative club for youth.
The club although visiting schools with the Foundation to host workshops has three locations in Kingston and two in Negril for hosting more detailed and interactive workshops and classes for a nominal fee. Part proceeds are returned to the Foundation.

Owing to the vloume of work, and high demand for the Foundation’s workshops, children especially who have been visited at least two times by the Foundation network are redirected to become a part of the PI Youth Creative Club where they can establish continuum with the arts.
Pickney International (PI) is set up to provide wholesome artful entertainment for children that makes them JUST appreciate being youthful and placing growing up and adulthood in proper perspective.
Along with OAaSIS PI members stir the creative mind with clean fun, that continues way past slated sessions!!!

PI MEMBERSHIP FEE:
Pickney International Creative Youth club. Annual Ja$2,500/US35 fee covers buttons, stickers, newsletter, discounts on services such as workshops, private classses, and purchase of material at participating locations.
These PI workshops are separate and apart from the Foundation workshops, which incur little or no expense on the part of the benefactors.

PI SERVICES:
(PI cater to children INTERNATIONALLY with varied products and services which include)
CLOWNS, craft, masks, WORKSHOPS, treasure hunt, magic tricks, BALLOON SHAPES, various rides, bOUnCEaBoUTS, rockclimbing, scooter, FACE PAINTING, paper sculpture, PAPER ART, papier mache, BODY PAINTING, games, games, games, GAMES, art classes, CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, Costumes, Props, HOUSE
PI Products:
teeshirts, photography, caps, flash cards, educational computer games

PI Mission:
Children should be children, They should enjoy each stage of growth, they should be motivated to learn and to develop achieving their full potential. STRIVE to keep them happy just the way they were meant to be…

CONTACT for further information or an interview:
Founder Anthea McGibbon, 797-7297; Leighton Levy, 561-4445; Melhanie Spence, 842-1496
Paralegal Secreatary Dwane Forbes, 443-9443; Patrick James, 790-1941

Join a dynamic network of creative souls for empowering others on and through the Arts, Culture, Creativity here on this site, Let’s be extraordinaire and super impacting together instead of being just plain ordinary apart. Keep this site alive by placing an inexpensive advertisement on this site or investing your funds through a contribution (See sponsorship and promotions tier chart).

LISTEN UP: At participating locations across Jamaica, there will be cannisters for you to donate your mite. Please add your name to the list of cheerful givers.
This donation however small or soft, will go towards defraying expenses of our projects as listed on this site. Projects include
1. creative workshop series especially for transporting volunteers, art materials
2. arts materials for arts departments in communities and schools
3. book drive, yes we do need to purchase and transport excercise books, note pads, sketch pads too

OAaSIS cannisters

ON THE CANNISTERS YOU’LL SEE THESE WORDS:

OAaSIS I N T E R N A T I O N A L  F O U N D A T I O N
welcomes your support of our creative workshop series
To EMPOWER TODAY’S YOUTH under the THEME:

“The Critical Role and Impact of the Arts”

“One one coco full basket” PLEASE GIVE TODAY!

LEARN MORE AT www.oaasisinternational.org/call 876-797-7297
For a visit in your area – school, church, community centre
OR TO BE A PARTNER OR VOLUNTEER WITH US!

________________________________________________________________________

OAaSIS I N T E R N A T I O N A L  F O U N D A T I O N
invites your support of our creative workshop series
To EMPOWER TODAY’S YOUTH under the THEME:

“The Critical Role and Impact of the Arts”

“Every lickle mek a muckle” SO PLEASE GIVE TODAY!

LEARN MORE AT www.oaasisinternational.org/call 876-797-7297
For a visit in your area – school, church, community centre
OR TO BE A PARTNER OR VOLUNTEER WITH US!

Join a dynamic network of creative souls for empowering others on and through the Arts, Culture, Creativity here on this site, Let’s be extraordinary and super impacting together instead of being just plain ordinary apart.

Thank you for considering sponsoring of OAaSIS International Foundation, which operates not for profit, and its activities. Although operating not-for-profit, sponsorship arrangements are done as business deals where your every mite counts. Please see the different tiers of sponsorship/membership/promotion below.

Please see our brochures or send any questions you may have regarding the tiers below:

SPONSORSHIP/Membership/Promotion TIERS:

GRASSROOT SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: Free
Benefits: access to website, newsletter, mailing list

BRONZE SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: 5% of event cost or general contribution up to J$20,000 per annum
Benefits: newsletter, listing in press release as bronze sponsor, advertising on website only for 3 months, mailing list

SILVER SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: 10% of event costs or at least J$20,000 – J$50,000 per annum
Benefits: special mention, Select promo material, updates, newsletter, listing in press release as silver sponsor, advertising on website only for 6 months, mailing list

GOLD SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: 20% of event costs or at least J$50,000-J$100,000 general contribution per annum
Benefits: Select promo material, newsletter, updates, membership discounts on foundation ticketed activities and services at participating locations, listing in press release as gold sponsor, certificate of affiliation, OAaSIS promo items such as teeshirts, advertising on website only for 12 months, special feature on websites, newsletter, mailing list

DIAMOND SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: 60% of event costs or at least J$100,000-J$500,000 per annum
Benefits: All above plus Full Promo: material at events and websites, membership discounts on foundation ticketed activities, products and services at participating locations, certificate of partnership, updates, sponsor interview for event blog, newsletter, company brand marketing especially at major events (fundraisers and otherwise), inclusion in tv commercial and overseas selected activities, OAaSIS promo items such as teeshirts, listing on press release as a diamond sponsor, advertising on website only for 12 months, special feature on websites, mailing list

PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP:
Your input: above 60% of event costs or at least J$500,000-J$1,000,000 per annum
Benefits: All above plus Full Promo: material at events and websites, membership discounts on foundation ticketed activities, products and services at participating locations, listing in press release as a platinum sponsor, sponsor interview for event blogs, certificate of partnership, updates, newsletter, company brand marketing especially at major events (fundraisers and otherwise), inclusion in tv commercial and overseas selected activities, OAaSIS promo items such as teeshirts, advertising on website only for 12 months, special feature on websites, mailing list

More details available at this site address

________________
“Trust me, at the end of the sessions things were being viewed from a different angle, or should I say a better angle.”
____________________

By Barbara Henry, Secretary of the Citizens Association
The citizens of Morris Hall, Edward Piece, New Town, Paradise, and Whitter Hill were overjoyed by the visit of the OAaSIS Foundation who brought not only themselves but other motivational speakers.
They came to host a creative workshop series at the Sargeantville Church building on March 28, 2010. Persons in attendance were members of the Sargeantville church, Combined Citizens Association members, Youth club representatives, and friends and other citizens from the areas listed above.

CRAIG PHANG SANG PHOTO: The calm of the countryside envelops the OAaSIS team and all present for the creative workshop series.

The OAaSIS speakers gave us the will to go forward. So many persons were depressed and about to give up on dreams. “Trust me, at the end of the sessions things were being viewed from a different angle, or should I say a better angle.”
There was a mixture of songs, demonstrations of using simple things to make big things. Fabian Gabay, a youth from the Morris Hall community thrilled s with one of his poem. Fabian is ver talented, but needs help to finish school. His desire is to attend the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to study art.
The community supports him with prayers that he may be awarded a scholarship to fulfil his dreams.
Key points taught by the OAaSIS speakers were as follows:
a) Always be on the alert to grasp the first opportunity that comes along, as an opportunity is always there
b) Strive towards the end, never give up that easily as a winner never quits, nor a quitter win. Block all negativities that are a hindrance towards success.
c) Hard work, sacrifice and dedication are the key to accomplish one’s goal with determination
d) Be creative, simple things can turn into beauty
e) Mr Craig hit the nail on the head without even knowing. He spoke about the right attitudes, and this was one of our problems facing the youths. The wrong attitude will lead us nowhere, he said.

These were some of the many points put forward in the sessions. Many of the citizens Association members spoke about the impact that the series will have on the Association, as these points will be put forward in their meetings.
As secretary of the Association, Barbara Henry said for a long time she yearned to see things like these in the community.
“The community is in need of so many things, but we just did not have the help or the resources”. These persons have given us the power to push forward.”
The Foundation will be helping to set up a library. This will be a dream come through. Evening after evening, we see children on the street, some of their parents aren’t able to help them with homework.
Having a library and a place where children can be helped with homework, even summer classes would be a big help to the community.

Jerico Hanson encourages Barbara Henry as Anthea McGibbon looks on at the Creative Workshop Series, March 28.

Classes can be held in the days for those not attending school. We have some drop outs. These are the troubled children who also need counseling. Evening classes can also be held for the adults.
We wanted so much to do drapery and floral decorations, but there was no funding and we have no funds.
Recently we raised funds, but this can only buy one machine. We are in need of a stove, a computer, chalk board, desks, and chairs for the library and homework area.
We will use the stove to do income generating by baking pastry and selling these to small shops in the community.
For us to have our skills training we training we need at least six straight stitch machine and two sergers this will see us catering for at least 20 persons per batch.
Persons to teach these skills are available in the community.
We are presently trying to find out the best skill suitable for the youths which are about 85 per cent boys. They are our main focus as we have to mould them to be better men and women.
The citizens thank the OAaSIS Foundation for a well informative evening. We anticipate the next which will be bigger and better.
With the Foundation as our guide, we can be sure of a better tomorrow.
Lives will be enriched, our community will be the community we longed for. Thank for Sister Stacey for not giving up on Sargeantville.

NEEDS LIST in brief include:
Books and art supplies
Areas:
Floral arrangement
Cookery
Painting
Sewing
Business management
Stove
Utensils
Baking
Sewing machine
Computer

READ MORE:
CLICK FOR poem by Fabian Gabay
Read more on OAaSIS Creative workshop series for Jamaica
Creative workshop series by the river in Sargeantville
Books for library at Sargeantville
See more on Creative workshop series around Jamaica
OAaSIS team blooms in cool Sargeantville countryside
OAaSIS volunteers bloom in Sargeantville, Saint Catherine
Click for full testimonial by Ebonique, a visitor brought by Jerico Hanson

In a meeting on Thursday, March 18th the Honourable Minister Andrew Holness commited support for the Foundation. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Education at its Heroes circle location.
The move will be reflected in a letter to the foundation heads and official placement on the ministry’s website.

The Honourable Minister Andrew Holness

The overly cautious and critical thinking Minister was quick, in the meeting, to pledge support only after months of deliberation over information he had already received on the entity. The onus is now on the Foundation to ensure that the decision will not “turn around to bite him.”
It is also hoped that the Minister will be able to make official visits and presentations to those recognised, participating or rewarded during the phases, especially at the creative workshop series.
At the meeting principal of Allman Town Primary, Mrs Kandi-Lee Crooks-Smith also shared very briefly on the impact of the foundation, and its networking of members of the creative industry to answering her many calls for assistance with the Arts.

The Foundation’s current project is a creative workshop series for as many schools, communities, churches as possible where youth (0-19, 19-21) can be found.
The main objective of the series are:
1. engender the arts (literary, performing, visual) in education, recognising its importance in personal development
2. empower creative minds of today’s youth, and towards success in all areas they explore
3. execute fundraising projects with relating persons for the purpose of sustaining the foundation, and funding the creation of needed educational material such as books on our culture, arts and creativity.
4. assist in spreading the brand of sponsor company(ies)
5. incorporate computer skills with the Arts
6. provide basic mobilisation for developing a healthy appetite to learning
7. provide services geared to assist in career building and development in careers related toward involving the arts, in collaboration with Pickney International

Till year end, 12 areas have been slated. They include:
Allman Town, January 13-22
Sargeantville, Edward Piece community, St Catherine March 28
Port Royal, April 21,22,23
St Theresa’s Preparatory, May 4,6,7
Trelawny(at the Town Hall), June
Trench Town, July 17
St Thomas
Tivoli Gardens
Jones Town
New Hope Preparatory(Downtown Kingston)
Clarendon
Sligoville
BACK at Allman Town Primary

At the first workshop series held at Allman Town in January Mr Cordel Green, head of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica endorsed the Foundation, and its slated activities. Former broadcaster, Mr Green is also an Attorney at law.

Read more on Creative workshop series for Jamaica

The OAaSIS Family can have updates through televised broadcast, courtesy of the increasingly popular YouTube.com services.
Currently, OAaSIS International Foundation networks members of the creative industry and relating fields in empowering the creative mind of youth; advancing their development in all areas.
Official videographer is Robin Chin, owner of Enhanced Realism Films, who produces and edits films, and official photographer is Simon Thompson also from Enhanced Realism Films.

On YouTube.com, the foundation’s televised productions are shown under the name OAaSISintTV, abbreviated from OAaSIS International TV.

Here’s the first recording done. The occasion was at the Allman Town Primary, where the Foundation hosted its first in the Creative Workshop Series.

Those featured on the 9:23 clip are:
Kamal Hinds who gave a workshop on his GSAT Games, which enables children to prepare for GSAT examinations while having ‘fun’
Cordel Green (Attorney-at-Law, also executive director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica) who endorsed the event
Patrick James who is a graphic designer
Farenheit (singer, actor, graphic designer, musician, dancer, motivator) who is a patron of the Foundation. He along with OAaSIS founder Anthea McGibbon attended the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts

Now visitors to the OAaSIS International Foundation website can have a quick glance at the latest happenings of the organisation through special promotion areas on the front page.
As of today, Sunday, February 28, there are three promotion boxes giving a quick summary of the latest and ongoing features of the OAaSIS International Foundation. These exist to compliment the existing list of latest articles, and categories already on the site. These are located in the column at right, and under the advertising slots.
They are as follows:
1. Ongoing project with links
2. Ongoing fundraiser with links
3. Feature of the week (This area will either feature an article on a skilled person, who is either featured here on this site or on any other media house website including that of founder Anthea McGibbon)
3. Feature jots (which will promote articles from the

Come Tuesday, February 16th, from 7:00a.m OAaSIS International representatives will be guests on Jamaica’s televison prograsmme “Smile Jamaica, It’s morning time!”
The arrangement was confirmed on Thursday, February 12.

The opportunity is being provided to expose the Foundation’s objectives, missions and projects and those already accomplished.
Principal of Allman Town Primary Kandi-Lee Crooks-Smith, whose school was the first to be visited in the creative workshop series for schools, communities and churches will also be present. She will speak on the impact the series has left on the school, the next stage that the school will take, and her involvement with the Foundation.

The series came in direct response to an appeal she made for assistance with the Arts, reiterating that at one time classes had to be held under a tree.
It is hoped that along with the growing number of volunteers, sponsors will be secured as a result of the interview.

SPONSORS AT ALLMAN TOWN PRIMARY SERIES 1:

(Whistling Frog (Sebastian Odgen)), P Gavin James graphics, Howard Moo Young (master at graphic design and photography, Print Xpress, Hot off the Press, Berger Paint, Burger King, Videographer Robin Chin, owner of Enhanced Realizm Studios and his team, Xclusiv Entertainment, Paralegal Dwane Forbes)

READ MORE:

Jamaica’s OAaSIS International Foundation launches creative workshop series
DAY 1: Jamaican artistes, artists ignite young minds
DAY 2: New creative depth for students through creative series
DAY 3: Colonel Derby, Peter Lloyd, artists time out for children
DAY 4: Creative connections at Allman Town Primary
DAY 5: Workshop stirs creative power at Allman Town Primary
DAY SIX(6): Creative workshop series end with Solid performances
DAY 6: Starry end to inaugural OAaSIS Fdn’s creative workshop series
DAY 6: Allman Town Primary thanks over 30 artists, artistes for creative workshop series

MORE IN PRINTED MEDIA
JAMAICA STAR: Sophia Brown heads to Allman Town Primary

Allman Town paints for the Bank of Jamaica
Creative workshop series end with Solid performances