NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of State for Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard recently congratulated the Adisa Foundation for Children for the work it is doing in recognising talented Bahamian youth in the arts.
“In this day and time, if we took more time out to celebrate our young people and their achievements – and less time concentrating on the negative side of whatever exists in our society, that could become contagious and more and more of our talented young people would have the opportunities – like the ones who are sitting here – to not only express themselves, but also be celebrated,” Minister Maynard said at the awards ceremony.
“Thank you for really working very hard in your art form and we are very proud of you,” Adisa Foundation founder and director Mrs. Patricia Bazard told the honourees.
The Adisa Foundation for Children was formed four years ago, Mrs. Bazard said, with the view of encouraging talented Bahamian children to strive for excellence in their field. Also, it affords the children an opportunity “to be pointed in the right direction in their lives” spiritually, physically and otherwise.
Adisa is a Ghanaian word meaning “a child shall lead them.”
“Therefore, it is very fitting for the Foundation to be geared towards the encouragement and protection of our children,” she added.
The awards programme acknowledges, celebrates and rewards the contributions of children to the artistic culture of The Bahamas.
The competition is open to children from pre-school to high school.
Winning for Primary School Dance was former Columbus Primary and current Aquinas College student Precious Johnson. From Grand Bahama, Bishop Michael Eldon Primary school student Patrick Brian Boston won Most Outstanding Primary School Student in Music.
Former C. V. Bethel Senior High School students Thurman Johnson and Waldon Young won for Most Outstanding High School Student in music. Both students are now enrolled at the College of The Bahamas.
All winners receive a small grant to assist in their educational aspirations.
By ERIC ROSE
Bahamas Information Services
