Brent Goes Global - Jamaica 2024
Brent Goes Global is a once-in-a-lifetime project created to help strengthen future career paths and prospects by experiencing a range of community-established social action projects, exploring new cultures, making intercultural friendships and above all, making lasting memories.
At the heart of the Brent Goes Global project is a commitment to improve education, employment and social mobility, mirroring both the Raheem Sterling Foundation and Young Brent Foundation’s mutual ethos. The aims of the project include enhancing the group’s knowledge and appreciation of global cultures and social action initiatives, providing experiential learning opportunities and enabling them to develop skills such as fundraising and project management.
‘Out of Many, One People’ is the national motto of Jamaica, alluding to the many ethnic groups amongst the Jamaican population. The experience worked to enhance the group’s growth mindset, offering an opportunity to better understand what this means in the context of the many cultural communities in Brent, as they explored and learned with other young people in Jamaica.
In the run up to their trip to Jamaica, the group also took part in 20 informative and fun workshops led by youth workers, guest speakers and industry experts to help develop the group’s personal and social skills.
Clive Ellington, Chair of Trustees for Raheem Sterling Foundation commented, “We’re delighted to have played a part in providing this extraordinary experience for this remarkable group of young people from Brent. Raheem has a deep connection to Jamaica, the country of his birth, making this project especially meaningful to us. This incredible journey has not only offered a chance to forge international friendships and immerse themselves in a new culture and community but also equipped them with skills that will last a lifetime. We feel privileged to have collaborated with the Young Brent Foundation, whose mission and values align so closely with our own. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey and support these young individuals in this life-changing opportunity.”
Chris Bird, CEO of The Raheem Sterling Foundation further commented: “The Raheem Sterling Foundation and Young Brent Foundation recognise the vital importance of youth culture in strengthening communities for generations to come. By providing opportunities for young people from Brent to engage in cultural exchange programs like Brent Goes Global, we are not only giving them a chance to broaden their horizons, but also empowering them with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the future.”
Chris Murray, CEO of Young Brent Foundation said: “We’re thrilled to have received the support and vision of the Raheem Sterling Foundation to enable these exceptional young people to volunteer their time and energies in Jamaica this year. It was an incredible experience to see this group of 8 girls and 7 boys grow as a collective, support each other as a team, and learn how to reflect upon their individual future ambitions while doing great things with a community of young people from the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in Ocho Rios. The experience was truly life-changing for them. From learning about farming to cooking, teaching sports and dance to developing IT skills and debating, myself and my team were super proud of each and every one of them.
“As we look to recruit for year two of Brent Goes Global, I cannot thank the Raheem Sterling Foundation enough for their vision and commitment to this process. By creating the space for these young people to achieve, we’re opening doors for them to pursue their goals in any field they desire, and proving that there are no barriers to success once they believe they can.”
On their return to Brent, the group reflected on their unique experience and shared their insights of the trip:
“The trip to Jamaica was an important experience and it introduced me to a new culture and people so different to my own and I met some amazing people. It was an eye-opening opportunity and exploring a new place was made easy due to the amazing staff.”
“I had a lot of fun exploring the environment and having the freedom to do so; spending time with new people and getting to know each other. There was a very strong support system throughout the trip, offering an invaluable opportunity to learn from each other too.”
“It was an amazing experience that not only helped me learn a lot about the country, culture and people but also helped me learn a lot about myself. I would highly recommend this trip to everyone as it widens your knowledge, understanding and sympathy for others halfway around the world.”
According to the 2020 Brent Poverty Commission, approximately 22% of children in Brent live in poverty. However, with the impact of global economic inflation in 2022, this figure has risen to 43%. This means that many families are now struggling to make ends meet and are unable to provide their children with the enriching experiences that can help them build a deeper understanding of history and culture. Educational holidays and trips are often a luxury that these families cannot afford highlighting the importance of projects such as Brent Goes Global.
To listen to the Brent Goes Global podcast with the Raheem Sterling Foundation and talkSPORT, click here.
