Junior Masquerade Project to hit the road Saturday

For Crop Over to celebrate 50 more years, the preservation of its culture through Barbadian youth must be prioritised. This was the shared sentiment at the official launch of the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust Junior Masquerade Project In Association With Abed’s held at the Erdiston Special School.

The project spearheaded by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), now in its 22nd year, brings the culture of costume-making and masquerading to children throughout various schools and community groups across the island. There, they learn the process of bringing their creative ideas alive through costume and performance.

Andrea Wells Chief Cultural Officer at the National Cultural Foundation.

Last year, the initiative reached 750 children. This year, it is on track to reaching 1000 children if each of the bands are able to reach their targets. Participants will face the judges at Junior Kadooment on Saturday as a key component of this year’s event.

“A total of $48,000 in prizes are up for grabs. It’s really shaping up to be an exciting year!” said NCF’s Chief Cultural Officer Andrea Wells.

This year, the project involves students from 10 schools and three community groups. These schools and community groups will be part of Saturday’s Junior Kadooment. They are: Eagle Hall Primary, Ellerton Primary, Wesley Hall Infants, Grantley Adams Memorial, Pinelands Creative Workshop, Selah Primary, Hindsbury Primary, Arthur Smith Primary, Haynesville Youth Club, Shirley Chisholm Primary, Roland Edwards Primary, Erdiston Special School and Weston United Stars Community Club. One of the institutions participating is the Erdiston Special School – which caters to students with, but not limited to, down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, communication disorders and other disabilities.

Erdiston Special School principal Donna Holder.

The school’s principal, Donna Holder, was over the moon at their involvement. “This year we embarked on an awareness and sensitisation campaign. This was done by highlighting our students on Down Syndrome Awareness day with Rock your socks, Autism Awareness day and events such as NAPSAC (National Primary Schools Athletic Championship) – to which we sent a team,” she said.

“Therefore, you can imagine when we got the call from the NCF extending an invitation to participate in Junior Kadooment, our hearts were delighted…We playing mas this year!”, she said.

Wells expressed her gratitude to the programme’s sponsors – Sandy Lane Charitable Trust and Abed’s – for their contributions.
“What is to be commended also is that both of these corporate partners are on board for the culmination of the project. Not just for the training but for the celebration at Junior Kadooment,” she said.

Nekei Grant, Project Coordinator of the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (left) viewing costumes in the Junior Masquerade Project.

Title sponsor, Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SCLT), agreed, too, and showed their faith in the initiative with a donation of $50,000.
“We all stand here with one common goal. Improving the lives of Barbadian children,” said Nekei Grant, Project Coordinator of the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust.

“We’re truly honoured to partner with the NCF, a well-established organisation in Barbadian community and culture. We are honoured to fix our name to programmes that are well structured, that empower and support both the personal and professional advancement of our youth, and finally were honoured to play a small role in sustaining the future of cultural development here in Barbados.”

Along with title sponsorship of the Junior Masquerade Project, the ‘small charity with a big heart’ also contributed to the NCF’s youth volunteer programme.

Nikita Abed Caplen, Brand Director of Abed’s (left) is impressed by the costumes.

It was a no-brainer for Nikita Abed Caplen, Brand Director of Abed’s, who spoke about the $20 000 sponsorship and the retailer’s relationship with the NCF. “As a business, Abed’s is committed to supporting local creatives and the wider community and this Junior Masquerade Project is an incredible platform to do this. We are proud to support teaching children the techniques and skills involved in costume making; fabric selection, sewing, designing and decorating. All while fostering creativity and teamwork and collaboration as they work together to create their costumes for Junior Kadooment,” she explained.

Along with the cash contributions, participants in the project will receive priceless guidance from coordinators Suzanne Phillips and Teila Williams. (PR)