KINGSTON Jamaica, January 30th, 2012 -- Canada-based reggae artiste, Tasha T is absolutely delighted in her role as the official ambassador of Read Across Jamaica (RAJ). Having completed at whirlwind tour of select school in Jamaica in December, the singer is excitedly anticipating her duties for 2012 .
As the RAJ Musical Ambassador for 2011 & 2012, Tasha T, through her musical style of communication, will lend her talent to encourage families to approach literacy from a positive perspective. She has voiced her full endorsement of RAJ’s project with her latest release, Educate Yourself, which is the official theme song this year.
According to Tasha, “I am so honoured to be chosen for this very important initiative," she said, adding, "We cannot over-emphasise the importance of reading and encouraging our children to develop a love for this activity."
Read Across Jamaica Literacy Project (RAJLP), which is headquartered in the United States, is the brainchild of Caribbean nationals who feel the need to give back to the land of their birth in a meaningful. One of the board members, the Philadelphia-based, Hopeton Brown, spoke for the all the members when he mentioned the joy at seeing the faces of the children when they receive new books and listen to teh song performed by Tasha T.
RAJ was initiated in March 2004 at Siloah Primary School in St. Elizabeth Jamaica, our first gift was the donation of 50 new Dr. Suess books obtained from the National Education Association (NEA).
"The kids were excited and full of joy. This, to us was a positive reaction," said Brown as he recited the RAJ's motto: Share a book with a child and you have given illiteracy a dose of cure.
Musical ambassador, Tasha T, is quite cognizant of the importance of her role and points out that the US/Canada/ Jamaica connection is really an example of Jamaican working together to uplift the country. She also had a special word for her fellow entertainers.
“We [artistes] must make the effort to engage our youth in activities to feed their minds, nurture their growth and display enjoyment with various forms of the arts. Our lyrics must be well thought out and we must remember that whether we like it or not, we are role models,” Tasta T declared.
At the end of last year, Tasha T and some members of RAJ visited the Cassava Piece Activity Centre, St Andrew; St. James Parish Library in Montego Bay, the Henningay Prep School and the Breadnut Hill Primary School, St. Ann.
“It was wonderful,” a beaming Tasha T said of the visits, where she performed, interacted with the children and handed out pictures and reading material.
'It was fun,' says Read Across Jamaica musical ambassador, Tasha T, of her recent visit to schools in Jamaica
Project co-ordinators Gavin Palmer and Hopeton Brown said they were more than pleased at their three days of activities and happy for the opportunity to engage with students and parents and spread the knowledge.
The team will be back in Jamaica early this year for another phase of the Read Across Jamaica project.
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