The Editor, Sir:

My name is Tiffany Stull. I am a graduate student from Brock University's Dramatic Arts department. Every summer for the past two years I have come with my classmates and professors Michael St George and Jane Leavitt, to run the Turnaround Project, or how we call it, TAP.

TAP operates out of CASE (College of Agriculture, Science, and Education) in Port Antonio where we host arts workshops and sporting events in order to give Jamaican youth an opportunity to discover themselves and their talents.

Even though I am not from Jamaica and I could never claim to know the extent of the problems manifesting themselves in the country, I am an educator and an artist, and I know what TAP is doing will last for a lifetime in the hearts of the 100-150 kids we have reached in the past two years. TAP is a five-year plan. We will be returning to run a new and improved programme in July 2009.

There is so much good being done through this programme for the Jamaican youth who have nothing to do to fill their idle time in the summer. We spend two weeks together building relationships and creating works of art (drama, music, dance, art, writing). Blakka Ellis, the renowned Jamaican comedian and professor, visited our camp this summer to run a one-day workshop with the youth. His story of redemption and 'turnaround' really encouraged the participants. The youth, who are from different parts of Jamaica, are being introduced to and practising concepts and skills that before, were never a reality for them.

Medium for their growth

TAP is the medium for their growth. We are giving them an opportunity to express themselves and be cared for in a safe environment, free from violence and hopelessness.

The key to Jamaica's renewal is the youth. TAP and other youth programmes happening within Jamaica are trying to build your youth into leaders, ambassadors of change, if you will.

Without the proper resources, time, and money, their growth and development will also be limited. Don't let their future be determined by their place of birth. They have so much potential.

We cannot let the youth slip through the cracks of bad education systems and idle time. Please support projects going on in Jamaica, free programmes, for your kids. Better their lives. Better your own in the process.

"Step by step we're going to make it to the top", says Michael St. George.

I believe in education and the transformative power of the arts...let it transform the lives of the struggling teens walking around you every day.

I am, etc.,

TIFFANY STULL

tiff_cr@hotmail.com

307-27 Leaside Drive

310 Glenridge Ave

St Catharines

ONTARIO, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica