Niki Henry, manager, Commonsense Promotions. - Contributed

The promoters of Spring Bling, a charity-based stage show, have gained the love and respect of the Donmair Close community in St Andrew.

The event, which started nine years ago, has been the backbone for a number of developments in the community, which is home to many deprived inner-city youths.

Over the years, the proceeds from Spring Bling have helped to develop and maintain various projects in the Donmair community. These projects include an auto mechanics garage, a car wash, a block factory, a playfield and netball court.

Toronto-based company

Organisers Commonsense Promotions and Great Minds, a Toronto-based company owned by Jamaicans, are currently embarking on the 2009 staging of Spring Bling, which will take place this Friday at the Constant Spring football field.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Niki Henry, manager of Commonsense Promotions, said that she was pleased to see that all the work is now bearing fruit.

"I am very proud right now, from where it is coming from to where it is now, makes me feel good. It is a joy because a lot of hard work has been done," said the 35-year-old Henry.

Henry, an assistant of well-known attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson, said that the show has received great support from various artistes, labelling them 'philanthropic stalwarts'.

"About 75 per cent of the artistes contribute to the cause; some even performed for free. If they do want something, it's nothing much. I see this as a great way to send a message out there," said Henry.

She added: "They could have said 'no' or 'busy doing other things' but these philanthropic stalwarts always come around to ensure all goes well."

The show will feature the likes of Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer and Mavado and with that line-up, Henry believes that patrons will receive good entertainment.

The venue, which is the home ground of the Constant Spring Football Club currently playing in the KSAFA Super League, a second-tier division below the National Premiere League, has been donated by Danny Lynn for the last four years.

Join hands to help

Lynn, who is the co-founder and runs the day-to-day operation of the club, told The Gleaner that the club also benefits from the project as community members join hands to help with the renovation of the club facilities.

"I won't call it a trade, but it also helps to uplift the facilities at the club. I can only talk about the club because people would come around and help with the manual work and it doesn't cost the club," said Lynn.

Lynn said that he believes the initiative is the right way to get unity in any community. "I believe so, any time you see developments in a community like this, it speaks volumes."

The garage, which is located at Donmair Close off Red Hills Road, is used as a training centre for the youths studying auto mechanics. It was one of the first projects established by the promoters.

The garage has about eight to 10 youths on a daily basis and they are taught welding, auto mechanics, body work and spray painting. The Gleaner spoke with Steve Hendricks who has been at the garage since its inception in 2000.

Hendricks, a 33-year-old mechanical engineer, believes the project was the smartest move as it has impacted positively on many youths whose lives have been robbed of proper parenting and opportunities.

"The youths them used to get themselves in a lot of trouble," stated Hendricks.

"It helps the youths them to learn a skill and the community benefits from it also. To see that the youths are learning from it is greater than money," he said.

Why?

And why?

"Because anyone in the community can get his or her car serviced for less than the average price that other mechanics charge outside," he said.

Hendricks said that most parents in the community have become aware of what takes place at the garage and make it a priority to send their children there during holidays.

"We are in the finishing stage of an office where we can process the day-to-day running, and we are planning to teach the youths how to gas a/c and other stuff," Hendricks added.

At present, Hendricks said he is most inspired by the development of 16-year-old Aaron, who came to the garage with no knowledge after dropping out of Swallowfield All-Age School.

"We have a youth here who dropped out of school and come here and learn. Now, he can pull up a car engine, then spray it after without anyone watching. That means a lot because is right here he learned to do that," he added.

MP's support

Ricky Francis and Kimberly Lawson having a whale of a time at the Bikini and Shorts party aboard the Caribbean Queen last week. - photo by Janet Silvera

Meanwhile, Karl Samuda, member of parliament for the north central division in St Andrew, which is the constituency of Donmair Close, expressed delight in the efforts of the promoters and community members and assured them of his support.

"Well, that particular activity has really benefited the community of Donmair Close. It gives the young people assistance as to how they can develop in sports, work skills and other areas," Samuda told The Gleaner.

He continued: "So far, it has been incident-free. It's held in my constituency and the community has been very active and I will give them all my support towards the development of the community."

The minister believes there is more work to be done, but hinted that major developments will take place at the Constant Spring football field via the efforts of himself and funds generated from Spring Bling.

Proper lighting

"We are now in quotations as to the lighting on the field. It is our intention to not only light the field but to build on other infrastructures and areas that are in most need of help. We are expecting that in another month the field will be properly lit," he added.

In the meantime, Henry said she hopes the show will continue to develop on its legacy. She said the benefit from this year's event will go towards the Reg Keiz Basic School in the community where Spring Bling had its genesis in 2000 before developing into a recognised concert.

"We are planning to assist them (the school) with swing sungs, slides, monkey bars and any other item they wish. The whole thing started right there so we want to give back to them," she said.