Students at Campus A at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School have launched a Graphics, Audio and Visual Association (GAVA) thus giving themselves an opportunity to explore an exciting and growing activity on the island.

Executive Members of GAVA

Well-known photographer and visual arts personality, Andy Brown, who is facilitating and advising the association, described the effort as a bold initiative undertaken by a team of positive students. He said it signalled great hope and success for Anguillian youth. It also confirmed that all was not lost with the island’s young people and that they could be positive thinkers once they were provided with the opportunity.

Speaking at the launching ceremony on January 12, Mr. Brown went on: “When I consider the increase in school violence and the negative behavioural patterns, I wonder how I, in my small world, can play a part in moulding lives and positive attitudes within our school community. I find that once our young people are given a challenge in which they can channel their extra energy, they will shine.”

As a founding member of GAVA, he solicited the support of local professionals including media persons and members of the business community to give back something to the island to help mould the lives of young people.

Mr. Brown introduced the executive members of GAVA as follows: students Arthur Ward, President; Denecia Niles, First Vice President; Floyd Gibbons, Second Vice President; Venecia Hodge, Secretary; Tenesha Richardson, Treasurer; and Kareem Bradley, Public Relations Officer.

Campus A students at Launching Ceremony

Arthur Ward said the association was formed to train students in media production and communications. In the area of graphics, there will be photo and video editing and the designing of posters and flyers. The audio segment will include service to radio stations, managing and operating of public address systems in school and at community functions; and the visual component will include live video production and broadcasting.

“We are offering hands-on training in extra-curricula activities not available at school and this will provide a fun-filled and new experience for students,” Ward continued. “A unique feature of the association is that it will be solely managed by students and because of this they will also be exposed to the business field, and will gain firsthand experience in such basic procedures as department organisation and management as well as event planning.”

Andy Brown

He said that while the association would be operated by students, there would be some supervision by teachers at the school. He outlined a number of projects which the students would work towards. They include a student-operated radio station to serve the school as well as outside listeners; a television station (though in the distance) to cover sporting and other activities of the school; covering and documenting regional events involving the school such as the annual Leeward Islands Debating Competition; a graphics shop to design such items as SBA covers for students, posters and flyers for various school and community events; creating and designing advertisements for businesses for the print and television media; and a school magazine.

The President of GAVA told his listeners, who included a number of students, that the training in communications and other associated skills would be carried out by teachers at the school as well as a number of trained and experienced volunteers in the community.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News