Calabash TV
Calabash TV presents St. Lucian Reggae singer/songwriter Taj Weekes speaking about the alarming rate of diabetes on St. Lucia, which has the highest rate per capita in the world.
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Calabash TV presents St. Lucian Reggae singer/songwriter Taj Weekes speaking about the alarming rate of diabetes on St. Lucia, which has the highest rate per capita in the world.
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By Sant Justin
Students of the Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary School were treated to a jazz showcase on Monday. Principal Ethelyn Leonce says the activity is now in its fifth year. This year, "Jazz at the Dame" was downsized due to last year’s hurricane. Leonce says in previous years, the school has had national acts such as Boo Hinkson perform for students.
Leonce says the event is held annually especially for students who did not attend the grand event. This year, Taj Weekes, who performed at mainstage jazz on Saturday, performed and presented a number of tokens to students.... moments before he boarded a plan to New York where he resides.
"Jazz at the Dame" is a one day activity meant to bring a real jazz atmosphere to the students.
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By David Pascal
Young footballers are taking the opportunity to show off their skills under the watchful eyes of five United States coaches, in hopes of landing a scholarship overseas.
This initiative which is called They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO) Soccer Student Athletic Scholarship Program was officially launched on Thursday, inside the boardroom of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who along with the St. Lucia Football Association (SLFA) and the Sacred Sports Foundation have teamed up.
TOCO, which is the brainchild of world renowned St Lucian artist Taj Weekes, is a US based non-profit organization whose mission is to help underprivileged, at risk and orphaned children in the Caribbean through sports, health and enrichment programs. TOCO's projects range from after school soccer programs, a diabetes awareness campaign, poverty initiatives, music and arts programs.
Taj Weekes (foreground) during a practice session with youngsters at the Marchand Grounds.
Over the past two years, TOCO has travelled to St. Lucia to deliver 500 soccer balls and 600 uniforms, distributed 2700 glucometers to encourage people to get tested for diabetes and have launched the Clothesline Project to address the issue of domestic violence in the Caribbean.
The TOCO Soccer Student Athletic Scholarship Program is under the supervision of the following five United States university soccer coaches. Their primary objective is to identify students who have the required grades and athleticism to achieve a scholarship to a US college or university: Mike Avery, Head Coach, Valparaiso University; Jeff Oleck, Assistant Head Coach, Valparaiso University; David Stroud, St. Joseph's College; Andy McCaslin, St. Mary's College; and Dan Thibault, Biola University.
At the press launch, President of the SLFA, Patrick Mathurin, embraced the TOCO Soccer Student Athletic Scholarship Program with open arms. He said: "The SLFA is more than happy to partner with anybody when it comes to football. It is our life; it is our mission and in the association we see it more than just a game. We believe that any initiative that involves young persons in terms of football is great. We are happy to partner with TOCO and the ministry to ensure that this particular activity comes off." He pointed out that this initiative falls within the SLFA's plans for the development of football and hopes it is not a one shot deal but the beginning of things to come.
With the assistance of Sacred Sports Foundation, Mathurin planned to contact over 150 young persons island wide to make them aware of the program. It officially got underway Friday evening at the Gros Islet Playing Field. On Saturday the program shifts to the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux Fort from 9 am to 12 noon.
There was a pre registration, however, individuals who are interested in attending the session in Vieux Fort should contact Sandra Alexander of the Sacred Sports Foundation at 758-518-0453. Acting Director of Youth & Sports, Claudia Jn Baptiste, welcomed the new initiative which she feels has a lot of opportunity for young persons.
She said: "For many years we have watched our talented young persons just fall by the wayside, especially when they leave secondary school where you have organized competitions. Most of them do not fall into the club structure so we are very happy that at least some of our young people will get an opportunity to receive an education and play the game they love.”
When that happens a lot of the credit should go St Lucia’s singer/songwriter Taj Weekes who founded TOCO. He is committed to utilizing his talents to bring awareness to the issues of poverty, global warming, HIV/Aids and diabetes through his music.
Speaking about TOCO’s football program, the founding member said: “We know the talent is there; we know the coaches exist and we are trying to bring it all together." Having played football while attending school, Weekes can relate to what young football players are going through. He pointed out that after playing football at his secondary school there was nothing else left. Weekes is proud of the fact he is able to come to St Lucia and assist in some way, not only this year but in years to come.
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St. Lucia's Prime Minister Stephenson King declared a state of emergency yesterday, appealing for international help for St. Lucia's worst national disaster in recent history. Lives have been lost and many more are still missing.
The southern town of Soufriere and its neighbor Fond St. Jacques, near the landmark Pitons, have been hit the worst by the storm and many say the towns resemble a war zone. All roads to the area have been washed out and they are cut off from aid, supplies, electricity and water.
Other areas have experienced massive land and mudslides, floods, sinkholes, roads and bridges washed away. The island's fresh water supplies have been contaminated by mud and other pollutants creating an extremely serious lack of fresh water, which will have to be brought in from other islands and countries. Relief shelters are full and in dire need of supplies.
To all those who are able to share even a little bit with those less fortunate than yourself, please join me in sending down relief supplies to our friends in St. Lucia. Through our last several visits with TOCO, I have had the opportunity to come to know Valerie Albert of HTS, the wonderful youth of ICAN (youth group) in Soufriere and RISE in Castries and their impeccable leaders, Dr. Stephen King and Dr. Jacqueline Bird. We will be working in conjunction with Dr. King, Dr. Bird and Ms. Albert to ensure relief dollars and supplies are put to good use.
With my deepest gratitude and appreciation,
Taj Weekes
Taj Weekes with Crusader men's soccer players this past spring.For the second straight season, the Valparaiso men's soccer program is holding a charity game to raise money for They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), as the Crusaders are waiving the standard admission charge for Friday’s game against Milwaukee at Brown Field and instead accepting monetary donations for TOCO. TOCO's founder, St. Lucian reggae artist Taj Weekes, will be in attendance at the game Friday night and will also be participating in a number of events on campus during the day.
Both cash and check donations will be accepted at the gate on Friday night for TOCO, with the Crusader men's soccer program matching dollar-for-dollar the money raised by the general public. The Crusaders will also be collecting new or gently used soccer equipment, athletic apparel and shoes, which will be distributed by TOCO to needy children in the Caribbean.
TOCO is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization founded by Weekes which is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged, at-risk and orphaned children in the Caribbean through sport, enrichment, educational and wellness programs. Valpo became involved with TOCO early in the 2008 season when it donated some used soccer equipment, and the partnership has blossomed over the last two years. The Crusaders were able to raise nearly $4,000 for TOCO last year at their charity game against Michigan.
Friday night's game will count as a CORE approved fifth-hour event for Valpo students in the first-year course. Weekes will be holding a discussion/Q&A with CORE students and faculty from 1-2:30 p.m. on Friday in the Union's Campus Café, and will also be meeting with Music Enterprise Student Association (MESA) from 11-11:50 a.m. in the VUCA. He will also be at the game, available for pictures, autographs and to talk about his charity and music, including his upcoming new album, "A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen."
Article by: Stan Bishop
(Photo) Taj Weekes joins women in their stance against gender-based violence last Tuesday.There were more tee shirts with messages against domestic violence than there were people willing to show solidarity for the cause. But organizers say last Tuesday's activity at the Derek Walcott Square is nonetheless a serious one.
The activity was the culmination of a programme of activities in observance of International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8. Dubbed the "Clothesline Project," the focus was to sensitize the general public about gender-based violence, especially in cases where women and girls are the primary targets. St. Lucia-born international musician Taj Weekes, one of the collaborators on the project, spoke to The VOICE on the new concept.
"In the Caribbean, domestic violence is the sort of thing that is hidden under the table," Weekes said. "So this is merely a way of starting a conversation in an effort to bring it out in the open. Hopefully, we can keep talking about it and move toward a direction where it's an open thing and people are not afraid to say they're being abused."
Weekes said he adopted the idea for the initiative from the U.S. where he currently resides. In fact, he has his own "Traveling Exhibition," and has showcased it in two arenas so far – Massachusetts and St. Lucia. He said the idea is a staple in most of the American states.
Members of the public had the opportunity to paint whatever anti-violence messages they wanted on the tee shirts supplied by Weekes and the Department of Gender Relations. The tee shirts were then hung to dry on clotheslines in the Square, depicting the obvious symbolism of not letting some of society's dirtiest little secrets go unnoticed.
Weekes said the tee shirts from both camps will be on display again in November when Domestic Abuse Month will be observed. In the interim, though, he will be displaying - and building up - his collection of tee shirts in several islands across the region to raise awareness on the scourge of domestic violence and its negative impact on society.
Louise Victor, general secretary of the National Youth Council, was one of the many speakers at Tuesday's public rally. She believes the activity is just one small step that can lead to eradicating a giant common problem.
Other speakers on the day included Anthony Avril of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association, Valerie Albert-Poyotte of Education International, Charms Gaspard of the Department of Gender Relations, Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Guy Mayers, and Taj Weekes. Calypsonian Lady Leen closed the proceedings with a rendition of her "woman power" anthem, "Woman In A March."
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Article by: Kayra Williams
Security minister Guy Mayers (center) told the audience that respect was key to curbing abuse.Anyone passing near the Derek Walcott Square on Tuesday, March 30 would have likely had to do a double take to ensure what they thought they saw matched up to what was happening in reality. At a first glance, it looked as if women were hanging up freshly washed laundry inside the Square, rather than in their own back yards.
Those who had the time dropped in, simply to inquire about what was going on, having not heard about the project through various advertising mediums. They were ushered into the venue with relaxing Reggae tunes adding a spring to their step, and quickly learned that the proceedings were all part of the ongoing Clothesline Project.
The event was presented by the Division of Gender Relations in collaboration with TOCO-They Often Cry Outreach, the Crisis Centre and HTS/Radio 100 and culminated International Women’s Day activities on the island.
The idea of hanging clothes, in this instance, freshly painted, or previously painted t-shirts was an attempt to raise awareness of domestic violence. An exploration through the carefully arranged clothing lines would find that each shirt had been painted by regular women who just wished to tell their story. In some cases the "artists" had been victims themselves, and wrote in an effort to get their stories out there, hoping that it would help other victims of abuse realize they were not alone. At the same time they hoped it would help them finally let go of the pain of their own experiences.
National archivist Margot Thomas's shirt read: "It only takes one to stop the violence, let it be you!" Other carefully designed shirts spoke for themselves, "Love doesn't hurt, Love is beautiful," "Mad, very angry at the person," and "Please, don't forget I survived."
By hanging a shirt and walking away, it is felt that a woman can in a sense leave an ugly part of her past behind, and move on. The project was started by various women's groups in Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States in an effort to create a program that would "educate, break the silence and bear witness to one issue—violence against women."
Tuesday's event intended to draw in members of the public who wished to express solidarity with victims of domestic abuse.
"Stamp your disapproval of this abhorrent behaviour, encourage the youth to make a difference, to break the cycle," the message rang out through the sound system.
National Archivist Margot Thomas joined the project on the Square on Tuesday.There was no short supply of women—and men, wanting to add their stories to the project and sign shirts. From 12:30 pm curious onlookers showed their disapproval of gender violence by adding their shirts to the already abundant collection. The t-shirts were also meant to serve as an educational tool for guests to the event.
The display dates of the Clothesline Project typically coincide with months calling attention to violence. Presently, there are around 500 similar projects internationally with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 t-shirts.
Tuesday's event offered a poetry recital by Marcel Johnson, entitled, "Deflowered and Still Bleeding," and Calypsonian Lady Lyn's anthem, "Women in March." There were also solidarity messages from various organizations including the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association, the International Men's Network, FAITH, Education International, the International Women's Support Center, the Crisis Centre, as well as remarks from Andrea Bourne representing the St. Lucia Labour Party and St. Lucia's Commerce Minister Guy Mayers.
Mayers left the gathering with the message that change started with one person. "Respect the rights of each other... love your spouses and take care of the children," he said. In his words doing that would lead to a more peaceful and friendly society. "Be part of the solution, not the problem."
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A 2.5% reduction in the complications of diabetes over the next six months is the ambitious goal of a recently held workshop for diabetics. The workshop armed diabetics, their caregivers and family with information both preventative and curative to help achieve that aim.
Diabetes and hypertension are of great concern to the Health Team of Region Two, Babonneau and surrounding areas, who regularly deal with patients suffering the unnecessary health issues brought on by complications from these diseases. The Region Two team, led by Nurse Mary Joseph Charlery, organised the one-day session to educate concerned residents on how to manage the disease, prevent complications, and help improve the quality of life of diabetics.
Assistance was provided by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), which has a mandate to empower communities. The BNTF currently operates as part of the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF). The Diabetic and Hypertensive Association and the Taj Weeks Foundation [They Often Cry Outreach], also provided materials for the workshop. These include diabetic shoes and kits.
Residents were delighted with the tone of the workshop, which they said clarified much of the confusing litany of information about diabetes and hypertension. Nutrition, foot care, medication, exercise, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections were among the issues addressed. Podiatrist Deborah Charles, nutrition officer Linda Philgence, pharmacist Richard Chung and fitness instructor Jerome Gideon comprised the comprehensive panel of facilitators.
Diabetes still ranks as one of the top three leading causes of death in Saint Lucia, with serious complications ranging from heart disease, blindness, strokes and kidney failure to amputations and skin problems. Saint Lucia continues to see increases in diabetes and hypertension and these non-communicable diseases are among the top consumers of health care dollars. The Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), which is an amalgamation of the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). SSDF is funded by regional and international agencies.
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They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO) is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization founded by St. Lucian artist Taj Weekes and is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged, at-risk and orphaned children in the Caribbean through sport, enrichment, educational and wellness programs.
"I had the personal pleasure of meeting Mr. Weekes at an event in Orlando. I was very impressed with his compassionate words of wisdom and encourage people to check out his website to learn more about TOCO."
--Gabe LeBlanc (editor)
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Article by: Lovely St. Aimee
Medical officials through the generous donation of one non-profit organisation are now more equipped to help improve the quality of life of diabetes patients. The Victoria Hospital over the weekend received thousands of diabetes testers from TOCO (They Often Cry Outreach). Jackie Cherubin Weekes, says TOCO founder, Taj Weekes, made a commitment to support efforts to curb the onslaught of the disease when he journeyed to the island in support of The Wave "Walk and Burn Fun Walk."
Dr. Ayo Adesanya thanked TOCO for the gesture which he says will go a long way in empowering persons living with diabetes to take a measure of control in managing the disease. He says with the necessary equipment to monitor their condition, they could dramatically reduce the rate of diabetic complications. St. Lucia currently has the highest rate of diabetes per capita.
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