Group aims to inspire inner-city youth

Growing up in Parade Gardens, Kingston, Phillip Watson knew what it meant to go to school with "half a pencil, half a book that was already used from the last school term".

He had to fight through struggles most children should never have to face. Now at 39, those hardships are the fire that fuels his mission to team up with others and give back to inner-city youth while urging other communities to do the same.

"My motivation comes from my upbringing. I'm from an inner-city community so I know what these youth are going through. I understand what it is to struggle, to fight, and to do your best as a youth to excel, to reach where I reach today," Watson told THE STAR.

"For a person like me to have been through so much stuff and not turn out on the wrong side of life, I had to take the time out to create an organisation that will help youth in need - whether fatherless youth, youth who don't have guidance, or those who all they know is hardship," he added.

Watson said the vision for his NGO, Supm Fi Talk Bout, was born from his own pain and the shared experiences of his peers.

"All 12 of us that formed this group had been through programmes and benefited also, 'cause we were not the type of youth that sit on the corner and idle. We get into youth group, police youth club and sports to keep occupied. That exposure is what built us and motivate us more to even do this work the underprivileged communities," he said. Last Saturday, staged its 18th Culture Shock Extravaganza, Sports Day and Back-to-School Treat at Breezy Castle Sports Complex in Kingston. The event pulled together 16 communities for volleyball, netball, football, and even a bicycle stunt show.

Supm Fi Talk Bout has dedicated itself to helping at-risk youth in 16 inner-city communities through crime prevention, sports, and education.

"The programmes we offer range from conflict resolution and critical thinking workshops to community farming and breakfast programmes for children in need. We also provide reform opportunities for troubled youth and we recently launched a fire relief programme for families displaced by blazes," said Watson.

But he stressed that the work goes deeper than handing out books or staging football matches.

"It's about walking with the youth and their parents daily, in their homes, lanes, and yards. We don't just engage youths because of a sport, we try to get into their space and reason with them. Show them that they have opportunities we never had and how to take advantage of it so they can be better than us," he explained.

Watson added that he intentionally uses his own life story to inspire the youths, letting them know "you guys can do better than us. You guys can be greater than us".

"They love the fact that they know that this person has been through the struggles, has been through hardship, has been through a lot of things. That is the reason why I think they mainly take on to us that way."

On Saturday, Parade Gardens held its ground, winning three of the four competitions, while Rae Town walked away with one. Watson noted that the team gave away schoolbags and books, stationery, assisted in book lists, and handed out vouchers for those struggling with back-to-school expenses.

Watson theorised that crime is polluting the whole environment in Jamaica, so while they cannot change the entire community, they try to change the youth who need empowerment.

"We use sports to bring the youth together and keep them engaged, but to get through to them, and [boost them] educationally, we do the critical thinking workshops, the homework classes, the conflict resolution sessions," he said. "We're not the branding type group, but we are that effective group that works and make things work."