A section of the large crowd attending last month's peace dance in the Mountain View Avenue area of St. Andrew. This section of the Corporate Area has been rocked by violence in recent months and the people have come together to show unity - Contributed MOUNTAIN VIEW Avenue in St. Andrew was again blocked on Saturday, October 25, and the hills were alive with the sound of - not gunshots - but music.
Thousands of residents of the troubled communities that flank Mountain View Avenue came together for an unprecedented community celebration, marking an end to the recent cycle of violence sparked during the June local government elections.
A FAMILY REUNION
Dubbed 'Mountain View Harmony Splash - a Family Reunion', the community festival kicked off with a 'Fun Run' road race at 7.00 a.m. and ended at 10.00 p.m. as the last notes of a star studded stage show drifted into the night. During the course of the day, young and old alike took part in football, netball and domino competitions. There were sports and games for the children and a six-hour stage show featuring performances by Mountain View residents, the A.Y. Krew (performing company of the Area Youth Foundation), with guest appearances by popular artists Mr. Lex and Mr. Vegas.
Mountain View Harmony Splash was the culmination of collaboration between the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), the Area Youth Foundation, the Social Development Commission, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and Excelsior Community College. It began with a process of mediation by the PMI following the flare-up of inter-community violence that claimed 17 lives earlier this year.
PERSONAL POWER
The PMI enlisted the aid of the Area Youth Foundation which brought together volunteers from the communities of Back Bush, Jarrett and Saunders lanes, Jacques Road, McGregor Gully and Burger for an intensive training programme hosted by the Edna Manley College and later EXED. Twenty-eight persons from the five communities committed themselves to a course in 'Community Cultural Animation' in which drama, games, dance and song-writing were used to break down barriers and prejudices based on territorial affiliation, build trust, encourage trustworthiness and to explore issues of self-esteem, self-reliance and personal power.
Initially, there was euphoria as old friends were able to see and speak to each other without fear after years of separation. Tensions inevitably surfaced, but, through the games and creative activities and opportunities to perform, the group melded into a unity as fierce as the previous hostility had been. They began travelling home together after the classes and visiting each other across the borders. This led to each of the groups organising and hosting the other communities for a moveable feast called the 'Peace Boat' which included a talent show and cook-out.
As the 'boat' moved from community to community, the crowds and enthusiasm swelled and fuelled the outstanding success of the Mountain View Harmony Splash, which was accomplished with the support and resources provided by the Social Development Commission.
