Information technology teacher and website designer Kumiko Terai (right) assists 14-year-old Bridgette Jackson as she browses the Web. Looking on is 11-year-old Glenroy Williams. After 63 years of existence, the club launched its website at www.mbbhc.org last Thursday. | The Gleanerfs Western Focus
Thursday, December 29 2005
Claudine Housen
Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
Christmas came early for the students of the Montego Bay Boysf and Girlsf Club last week when the institution launched its website after 63 years of existence.
gIt was very hard work getting information and creating logos, but I am very honoured to be a part of the history of the Boysf and Girlsf Club because they never had a website before,h said information technology teacher and website designer, Kumiko Terai.
gPeople know about the Boysf and Girlsf Club in Montego Bay, but they do not know about it outside of the town. It used to be a very big club up to the late 1990s, but now its (patronage) is going down so I hope that getting a website and with the old boys now getting together, it will get back to where it used to be.h
REQUESTED CHILDREN FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE
A Japanese reggae promoter living in Jamaica for the past two years, Terai became involved with the Montego Baysf and Gilsf Club, when she requested children who could participate in a cultural exchange with Peace Boat, a Japan-based non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace and human rights, earlier this year.
gI started coming here and saw very energetic and very pure-minded young people and when the Peace Boat representative came, they really liked the children and they wanted to help develop their educational environment,h she explained.
gIn July, Peace Boat and Sunholiday joined together and decided to make Montego Bay better and Montego Bay Boysf and Girlsf Club was chosen for the first project. I started doing a computer class from August.h
RECIPIENTS ECSTATIC
A long-standing member of the Montego Bay Boysf and Girlsf Club and one of the recipients of the computer course, Jeffrey Wright, was ecstatic about the launch of the website.
gI feel really great about it. I have been here for nine years and I would like people to know about this club,h he said. gI am glad that we were able to get this woman (Ms. Terai) to help us launch a website tonight.h
A ninth-grade student at Anchovy High School in St. James, young Wright also spoke of his improvement in information technology class as a result of Ms. Teraifs influence.
A milestone in the history of the Boysf and Girlsf Club, the website www.mbbgc.org, showcases the rich history of the club, inclusive of the renowned Boysf and Girlsf Club Band. The website also sports a photo gallery dating back to its conception 63 years ago.
The Montego Bay Boysf and Girlsf Club is a service organization geared toward the empowerment of youth through creative outlets such as sports and the arts. |