Resolution Project is the annual advocacy through photography competition programme of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation.

Conceptualised by JNBS’ General Manager, Earl Jarrett, and launched in 2004, the project equips and trains students in high schools outside of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, in the art of photography and human rights advocacy. Resolution Project provides the tools that allow young

people to explore and capture images of life in their Jamaican communities.

It encourages students to critically examine their environments, and use the camera as a platform to speak out on issues that affect them, with a view to becoming advocates for positive change.

The 2011/2012 competiton cycle was launched with a series of workshops across the island in October and November. Read more about some of the students’ stories...

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INNOVATINGINSPIRINGIMPACTING

Resolution Project Resolution Project Schools 2011/2012Resolution Project Schools 2011/2012

St. CatherineGuy's Hill High School

St. ThomasPaul Bogle High School

ClarendonBustamante High SchoolClarendon CollegeGarvey Maceo High SchoolGlenmuir High SchoolKnox CollegeSpalding High SchoolVere Technical High SchoolFoga Road High School

ManchesterChristiana High SchoolKnox CollegeMile Gully High School

TrelawnyWestwood High School

WestmorelandSavanna-la-Mar HighGodfrey Stewart HighThe Manning's SchoolGrange Hill High School Frome Technical High School

St. AnnAabuthnott Gallimore High SchoolOcho Rios High School

St. MaryCarron Hall High School Oracabessa High School

St. ElizabethNewell High School

St. JamesMaldon High SchoolSpot Valley High School

Advocacy through Photography...

Resolution Project student participants pose for a photo op following the October 2011 workshop in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland

Stuart Reeves Photo

Shanice Hart, sixth form student at The Manning’s High School in Westmoreland, believes that much more needs to be done within the Jamaican society to protect children, who are by nature, susceptible to harm and danger.

“Every day we hear about the neglect and abuse of children,” Shanice said. In her estimation, the “horror stories” demonstrate a total disregard for the innocence of children by some persons.

Recognising the immense power of photography, Shanice decided to highlight the issue of child protection through her entry in the 2010/2011 cycle of the Resolution Project photography programme.

Since 2004, the Resolution Project has been training students in rural high schools in photography, with a view to highlighting positive and negative situations, and advocating for solutions to problems in their communities.

“Photography is a really good way of stimulating discussion about what needs to change in our country”, said the young artist and immediate Past President of the

Manning’s School Art Club. Interpreting one of the issues that she

believes is foremost on the minds of others youngsters, Shanice chose to combine the photographic skills she acquired though the project and her creative talent to speak out. She emphasised that photography has allowed Jamaicans to see the devastation caused by the Tivoli Gardens Incursion, the Fire at the Armadale Facility, and other incidents that directly impacted children within Jamaican society.

“Pictures tell a thousand words. When I look at pictures, I feel things from it,” said Shanice. Some of the images specific to children, she said, captivate members of the society to help, and often serve as painful, yet necessary reminders of these events.

Teacher/Coordinator at Manning’s High School, Mr. Phabian Grant worked closely with the students in preparing for this year’s competition and said the experience was challenging yet rewarding.

“As adults, we often view children as being carefree and happy, but deep down they too feel the same challenges we adults face, which was why we decided to go beyond the surface of the theme to uncover what young people really need,” he outlined.

Women as Protectors

Mr. Grant noted that Shanice’s entry in the triptych category, “Because I am young, I am protected” depicts the need to safeguard children who are often times unaware of the negative elements that exist in the world.

“We were walking down the road in Savanna-la-Mar one afternoon and we saw a student with a little girl. From there on, the theme of protection prevailed as she realised that what children need most is protection- from danger, violence and harm. We then started looking for other scenes of parents, older persons, grandparents and adults protecting younger children and chose the best ones for the triptych”, she said.

“The photo just happened, it wasn’t planned. We took several photos but we felt that these would be moving and would have the most impact,” Shanice added.

Volunteer Photographer, Stuart Reeves who trained and judged the students for this year’s competition commented that Shanice’s triptych was excellent in both interpretation and execution. “It exhibited a photojournalistic style that captured ordinary people going about their daily lives, ” he outlined.

“Shanice has presented very powerful photos portraying the role of girls and women as the protectors of our children in the Jamaican society; a role that has been echoed throughout our history and etched

into our collective, cultural memory. I am reminded of childhood moments with my sister, mother, aunt and grandmother when I look at her work,” noted Reeves.

Shanice agrees that photography allows for creativity, expression and is an excellent avenue to raise consciousness of issues affecting youth. “When persons see my photo, I want them to understand that no matter how old you are as an adult, you can still be a source of protection for a child, “she noted.

“So many times, I see young children roaming the street alone, running and playing, or go missing altogether, unaware of the many dangers that exist. Children are the future and deserve to be protected. The way I see it, it’s not an obligation, it’s a right”, she concluded.

Child Protection…it’s our right!The Manning’s School Student Draws Attention to Critical Youth Issue

JNBS Foundation’s Virginia Turner (left) and Alicia Glasgow (right) present the JNBS General Manager’s Award for Best Photo to Shanice Hart. For her entry, the sixth former earned a US$500 camera, photo plaque, $10,000 cash, as well as a framed copy of her photograph for display at her school. The presentation was made during a workshop held to launch the 2011/2012 cycle of the competition at the Wesley Methodist Church in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland on Friday, October 28.

Shanice HartJNBS General Manager’s Awardee for

Best Photo 2010/ 2011

“Because I am young, I am protected”Shanice Hart, The Manning’s School, Westmoreland

JNBS GENERAL

MANAGER’S AWARD FOR BEST PHOTO

Stuart Reeves Photo

Stuart Reeves Photo

Shania Escobar of Grange Hill High School, in Westmoreland, believes that a lot that can be learned from the experiences of others, particularly teenage mothers.The Grade 10 student agrees that despite various public awareness and prevention campaigns, too many female high school students engage in sexual activity and fall prey to unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.

According to the most recent Jamaica Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) by the National Family Planning Board in 2008, approximately 40 percent of Jamaican women have been pregnant at least once before the age of 20. The study identifies several contributing factors including poverty, misinformation, low educational levels, transactional sex, and the absence of male figures in the home; as well, as lax societal and cultural approaches to sexuality and sexual behaviour. With this in mind, Shania, and her schoolmates Rasani Doiah and Deon Coke, decided to use the art of photography to depict the negative impact of teenage pregnancy on girls. They submitted entries for the 2010/2011 Resolution Project competition programme. The team of professional photographers who judged the competition along with employees of JNBS Foundation and project partners, the UNFPA and the Gleaner Company Limited, all agreed that the message in their submission was a strong one, and awarded Grange Hill High School first place in the triptych category.

The team from Grange Hill High School built on the theme, “Because I am young…” by completing the phrase with their selected advocacy issue. Their entry, “Because I am young, I was used like a puppet, now I am alone,” consisted of three black and white photographs used in sequence to tell one common story, in their triptych. “Choosing the message to relate to the theme was not much of a challenge,” said

Shania. “We explored and experimented with different concepts. I shared an experience of a girl I knew who was involved with an older man and eventually got pregnant. After that happened, he disappeared and she was left to raise the child on her own,” Shania recalled, adding that “she was the only one facing all the trials and hardships, and so she felt used.” Mourice Edmond, Visual Arts teacher at the

Grange Hill High School noted that when Shania shared the story with the other photography club members; the group went about creating the right setting for capturing the concept, using various props such as stuffed toys. “Right there and then, we decided to use the stuffed toys to draw an ironic comparison, and decided to go ahead with the theme. We felt it was a strong message,” he declared. Group member Rasani also said that since the last Resolution Project workshop, he has become even more fascinated with photography, which he sees as a unique and powerful tool for advocacy.“Teenage pregnancy is something that is becoming more widespread in society and affects every school resulting in more cases of high school drop outs,” Rasani said. “The theme speaks to the fact that many times, young girls get involved in relationships too early and then they are left alone. Most fathers don’t stick around, which is why most children these days are growing up without a father.”

Deon Coke, the 11th grade member of the team, cautions teenagers to place a high value on their bodies and to be vigilant of situations in which they can be used and abused. “It feels good to know that we decided to become advocates and send a message to our fellow teenagers about teenage pregnancy and now it is being recognized,” Shania concluded.

Grange Hill High Students Tackle Teen Pregnancy

WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

Advocacy is a process of trying to affect change in policies, practices, attitudes, beliefs or actions by influencing people and/or organisations.

Advocacy involves educating others about an issue and suggesting solutions; being persuasive; taking action; influencing key decision makers; calling for change; representing, defending or recommending an idea before other people; empowering people.

Photography can be used as a tool to depict social issues in order to provoke action. Photographs can draw attention to a problem and appeal to the emotions of its viewers and increase visibility for the cause quickly and at low cost.

Anyone can be an advocate! All you need is to be actively committed to and adequately informed about the issue.

Speak Up, Speak Out: Affect Change!

PHOTO ADVOCACY

“Because I am young, I was used like a puppet”Deon Coke, Rasani Doiah and Shania Escobar Grange Hill High School, Westmoreland

L-R) Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation’s Project Officer, Anna-Kim Robinson presents prizes to Grange Hill High School students: Rasani Doaih, Shania Escobar and Deon Coke and their Art teacher Mourice Edmond. Stuart Reeves Photo

At 16 years old, Navisha Madden already sees herself as an advocate and agent of change in her hometown of Whitehall, St. Thomas. A student of Paul Bogle High School in that parish, she believes that young people have much to contribute to their communities, but are oftentimes overlooked by adults.

“There are not enough spaces and opportunities for young people to develop and play an active role in their communities,” she lamented.

When Navisha was offered the chance to express her views on the issues that affect young people through her school’s participation in the Resolution Project, she did not hesitate to sign up to be part of the team. She says that she felt empowered to channel her creativity through photography to change the perception that, “young people lack the ability or do not want to be participating citizens.”

Resolution Project is a competition programme of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation, which was created in 2004 to give high school students residing outside of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, the opportunity to use photography as a tool for advocate for change.

Finding the Inspiration

Navisha says she and the other members of her school’s photo club discussed many youth-related issues. “At first, I had no idea what I wanted to photograph. Our teacher sent us outside with our cameras and told us to look around and capture anything we thought was interesting. I saw a female student on the corridor and she was actually speaking to me, then she looked up. When she did, I could see the sky and she just stood there, so I decided to just take the picture.”

She explained that looking through the camera lens at her colleague standing against the bright blue sky immediately created the story in her mind. Navisha’s photo entry "Because I'm young…the Sky's the Limit" was submitted in the individual photo category and won first place. Navisha earned a Nikon digital camera, photo plaque, a $10,000 JN Gift certificate, as well as a framed copy of her photograph for display at her school.

“In the picture, there are no barriers, or anything holding her back. There was a smile on her face which made me believe that she

was going to accomplish something in life,” said the Visual Arts student.

Mrs. Johnett McFarlane-Lewis, Design & Visual Arts Teacher at Paul Bogle High worked with Navisha in preparing for the Resolution Project competition and describes her as a creative student who is

always eager to learn. “When Navisha came back with the picture, there was something that just captivated me. It shows that there are endless opportunities for the taking, but that attitude and commitment will determine future outcomes,” noted Mrs. Lewis. Navisha hopes that by viewing her photo, young people will understand that regardless of where they find themselves in life and the negative situations they face, they have the power to create a better future for themselves. Navisha plans to work with the E-learning programme where she will teach literacy and numeracy skills. She has big

dreams of becoming a lawyer and hopes to advance her studies at the tertiary level to make that dream a reality.

Navisha Madden Pictures GreatnessPaul Bogle High School’s...

JNBS Foundation’s Anna-Kim Robinson (left), Alicia Glasgow (2nd right) and Dawnette Pryce-Thompson (right) present prizes to Navisha Madden (seond left), and her teacher Johnette McFarlance-Lewis during the launch of Resolution Project 2011/2012 at the Spanish Town Methodist Church in St. Catherine on Thursday, November 3. Navisha earned first place in the individual photo category for her entry, “Because I am young, the sky’s the limit”. The fifth former earned a Nikon digital camera, photo plaque, a $10,000 JN Gift certificate, as well as a framed copy of her photograph for display at her school.

RESOLUTION PROJECT 2011/2012 Competition Cycle

2012/2013 CycleWorkshops

October ’11 November ’11 December ’11 January ’12 February ’12 March ’12

Assignment #1 Assignment #2 Workshops Assignment #3 FINAL COMPETITION

“Because I am young, the sky’s the limit”Navisha Madden, Paul Bogle School, St. Thomas

Stuart Reeves Photo

RESOLUTION PROJECT 2011/ 2012 THEME

PHOTO KEY

1. Making a LivingApryl TaylorKnox College

2. Africa's DanceDelton CarterSpot Valley High School

3. Who We Are Desron HarrisSpot Valley High School

4. Tug of War Orlando Byran Clarendon College

5. Man does not live by bread aloneKadian HyllamWestwood High School

6. The CanonsPaul Bogle High School

7. Steps to SuccessAshley Stephens Glenmuir High School

8. Life on the Church YardJaniesha Duggan Glenmuir High School

9. Tea in a PodJosei RichardsCarron Hall High School

11. Tools of Yester-year Kamille KirlewKnox College

12. Wheel of Yester Year Nikedo CampbellSpot Valley High School

13. Natural HighAshlie Parchment Westwood High School

Jamaica has long been recognized for excellence on the world stage. Millions of visitors travel to our shores each year to experience the spirit of Jamaica - the vibrancy of our people, our mouth-watering food, our unique music, as well as the sunshine, sand, sea and beautiful scenery of our island home. The Resolution Project 2011/2012 competition will focus on celebrating the best of Jamaica. Student photographs will highlight Jamaica in one or more of the areas of sport, arts, culture and heritage and help share the best of Jamaica with the world. The students got a head start with their November 2011 assignment to capture images related to Jamaican culture and heritage. Check out some of the pictures...

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Resolution Project student participants pose for a photo op following the October 2011 workshop in Mandeville, Manchester.

Stuart Reeves Photo

Seventeen students between the ages of 12 and 20 are now using the art of photography to advocate for transformation in their sometimes volatile, but striving community of Granville, St. James.

 Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation maintains that “while many young people and youth groups in Granville have already

been leading positive developments in the community, their work is often overwhelmed by reports of violence.”

  In an ef for t to strengthen community activism in Granville, the JNBS Foundation provided financial and technical support to 17 residents, who are striving to become advocates for change through photography.

  “External public perception is sometimes limited,” Ms. Brown said, adding that the outwardly negative

perceptions of communities such as Granville “stigmatise the majority of upstanding citizens who are already considered marginalised groups within

the society.”  The Granville Resolution Project,

held at the Granville Community Centre last August, was the second in a special community component of the JN Founda t i on ’ s pho t og raphy programme, Resolution Project.

  “The pilot community initiative, Tivoli Resolution Project, held in August 2010, was a collaborative effort with the Chichibud Foundation, which provided photo therapy to ten teenage

boys following the incursion into their West Kingston community, in 2010,” Ms. Brown outlined.

 Inside Granville Over four full days, the Granville

s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e d i n t e n s i v e photography training by volunteer professional photographer, Stuart Reeves, and advocacy training from the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network.

  Each participant received a digital camera and was challenged to go out into the community to capture images of the negatives and positives

Granville Teens Inspire Change

“Loving Ice Cream” - Julia Fowler

“Jump Satina, Jump” - Zatar Hylton

The Granville 17Seventeen young residents of Granville, St. James display the certificates they received for participation in the Granville Resolution Project, following an exhibition of the students’ photographs at the Granville Community Centre on August 27, 2011. Accompanying the students are JNBS Foundation’s Arts and Media Officer, Alicia Glasgow (3rd left) and Project Manager, Virginia Turner (4th left). Stuart Reeves Photo

about life in Granville; as well as keep daily journals and prepare short photo essays about issues of concern.

 One participant in the project, 19 year-old Shahani Emmanuel, says,the Granv i l le Resolu t ion Pro jec t i s “empowering young people like me in

Granville, to find ‘resolutions’ to the problems we face. The workshops also helped us to understand that through photography and teamwork we can strengthen our resolve to have our voices heard.”

Shahani believes the adage, ‘One picture is worth a thousand words’ to be true. And, the participants now appreciate that photography is a window through which people around the world can see many stories about Granville for themselves.

“I think we [the students] all have a different focus now,” Shahani says. “We are looking at things from many different angles, documenting the community with pictures; and, at the same time, celebrating the good and

exposing the bad things that bother us,” she added.

 Many of the themes identified by the teens through their pictures included: poverty, crime, poor living conditions, dilapidated roads and infrastructure. They also captured

issues related to teenage pregnancy, low self -esteem, pollution and drugs. The Granville Project c u l m i n a t e d i n a community exhibition of more than 50 pieces of the students’ work at the community centre on August 27. The project, w i l l h o w e v e r b e sustained, through the f o r m a t i o n o f t h e Granvi l le Resolut ion Project Photojournalism

Club. “ T h e S o c i a l D e v e l o p m e n t

Commiss ion and t he Granv i l l e P r o g r e s s i ve Yo u t h C l u b we r e instrumental in the implementation of the project, and will continue to provide further guidance to the club,” Miss Brown says. Additionally, she pointed out that, select photographs

from the Granville Resolution Project will form part of roving Resolution Project exhibitions across the island, during the coming year. 

Participant’sName Age

ChristinaAllenRasInieBirchShahaniEmmanuelShanelleEmmanuelJuliaFowlerTyranGrayShanoyaHenryZatarHyltonKaraKayeJacksonNicoleeneLairdNarvarJamesTevinMcFarlaneMichkaWaltersMickaeWaltersKadineReidGay‐AnnRoseZericaRose

1414211613191415181915141816121613

“Juxtaposed” - Ras Inie Birch

“Self hate?” - Christina Allen

“Can someone say ‘face lift’?” - Nicoleene Laird

“To Protect and serve” - Christina Allen“How come?”- Michka Walters “To Protect and serve” - Michka Walters “Despair” - Mickae Walters

In their St. James Community

How to find usJNBS Foundation 32 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston CSO Phone: 876 922 4931 Fax: 876 922 4777

E mail: foundation@jnbs.com Website: www.jnfoundation.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/JNFoundation Twitter: http://twitter.com/JNFoundation

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/resolutionproject/

Support the Resolution Project by purchasing a copy of one of these amazing student photographs!

Visit our Photo Gallery on our Website at www.jnfoundation.com and send us an email at foundation@jnbs.com to place your order.

or

Browse the latest student photos on our Flickr photostream at

h t t p : / / w w w . fl i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s /resolutionproject/

RESOLUTION PROJECT

ADVOCACY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

Stuart Reeves Photo

Are you interested

in volunteering with the Resolution Project? Send us an email and let us know how you would like

to help!