Displaying banners, Form Four students of Fatima College, Mucurapo, appealed to their peers and communities to change negative attitudes and behaviours like alcoholism and racism.
The project in which banners were placed along the length of the school's fence was an initiative of the RBC Young Leaders Programme for 2013–Be The Change.
Apart from racism, it tackled societal evils including sexism, bullying, substance abuse and peer pressure. After several discussions, the group decided they needed to be visible as well as appeal to issues which would be fodder among their peers.
Reaching out further, the group appealed to the fashion sense of their peers by producing buttons bearing messages such as "Real Men Respect Women," "Laundry is the only thing that should be sorted by Colour," and "Let Johnnie Walk Alone."
They intend to produce wristbands and T-shirts emblazoned with similar messages. Another arm was an internal Poetry and Poster Competition.
SEA mentorship
To date, the young leaders are most proud of their "mentorship" programme with the SEA classes from three primary schools which are feeder schools. These sessions included music and drama and a "Big Brother Mentorship" with Form One students.
The musical pieces included an "extempo" piece composed by the Reigning Extempo Champion, Leslie-Ann Bristow (Lady Africa), as well as a theme song created by a member of the group Daniel Roberts. Sports Minister Anil Roberts and cricketer extraordinaire Brian Lara are past students of Fatima.