Graffiti - an answer to teens' pleas
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from July 1990.
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For all the teenagers on the island who have been screaming out for something to take away the boredom of the holiday months, the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman has the answer. The Small Theatre at the Harquail Centre has been converted into a Teen Centre, run by teenagers, for teenagers.
Making available many different activities, the highlight of the Teen Centre will be Graffiti's nightclub. This, however, will only be in operation on Friday and Saturday nights, from 7pm to the legal closing time.
What happens on the remainder of the week is up to the Board of Directors which will consist of teenagers, due to be elected at a meeting on Friday 20 July, and a Kiwanis advisor, Mr. Val Lichtenstein. Ventures could include table tennis, pool games, basketball, netball, volleyball, guest speakers and anything else the teenagers may desire.
The Teen Centre was first put on the drawing board in October of 1989, when Mr. Paul de Freitas began his one-year term as President of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman.
According to Mr. de Freitas stage one was to negotiate with the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) for the use of the Small Theatre. Finally an agreement was made for the Teen Centre to operate there for a test period of three months. After this time, as long as the centre does not disturb the Cont'd. on page 2 from page 1
Harquail Theatre, the Teen Centre will continue there for another three years.
This was all agreed in December of last year. Some refurbishing had to be done by CNCF, like new restroom facilities, and Kiwanis volunteers added decorations to the interior. Some small but vital work remains to be carried out by PWD before the Teen Centre can operate fully.
The main focus for the Centre is to have substancefree entertainment, said Mr. de Freitas. "The aim is to save at least one teenager from adopting drugs as an alternate to life," he said. No alcohol will be served, and smoking is also prohibited.
"Members of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman and members of other Kiwanis clubs will be assisting in providing a secure and suitable atmosphere." Mr. de Freitas said. At least three volunteer members will be present on Graffiti's nights to ensure this.
At the end of the night it is hoped that a bus service will be available from Graffiti's. This will consist of two buses, one for the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay area, and the other going to North Side. Membership cards will be given to members of the Teen Centre and these will be checked at the door. A small admission fee will be charged the proceeds of which will "partially help to defray operating costs and to subsidise the late night bus service," said Mr. de Freitas.
Boards hung inside the building decorated or graffitied by the club members, are derived from the name "Graffiti's" which was suggested by Kiwanian Roger Bodden. Periodically, constituents of the Centre will be let loose with spray cans to bring the graffitti on these boards up-to-date.
Music will be provided by a band and disc jockey. The band scheduled for the first few months is the Untouchables, made up of four 18 year-old graduates of Triple C. The Kiwanis Club would like to encourage other popular local bands to volunteer their services.
When the DJ takes over, a friendly puppet, to be named eventually by the club members, will dance and play keyboards on a platform above the dance floor. Also in conjunction with the Graffiti's title, a design showing a neon DJ armed with two spray cans will be hung directly under the DJ's window. This idea was supplied by Craig Steele, son of Eric Steele, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman.
The Board of Directors of Kiwanis will retain a right to veto any decisions made by the teenage Board of Directors of the Teen Centre. This is to ensure that no decision is taken and acted upon which could be detrimental to other teenagers in the community, said Mr. de Freitas. Mr. de Freitas also pointed out that the Teen Centre is not aligned with any religious grouping. "The Kiwanis recognise that youth clubs exist within specific church groups. If the Board (of teenagers) wish to invite or encourage activities of a Christian nature their Kiwanis advisors will support them wholeheartedly, on an ecumenical basis," he said, meaning all churches must be included.
A letter published in the Caymanian Compass of 10 July, expressed a desire for a Youth Centre much like this one. It called for softball and football fields, badminton courts, an in-door swimming pool, and much more. The Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman regret that they cannot provide all of these things. However, "down the line we would like a teen centre purpose built from the ground up," said Mr. Paul de Freitas. This they can design with all activities in mind.
"The Teen Centre is an investment in the present to protect the future," according to Mr. de Freitas. It encourages teenagers to become more active in their community, and to foster positive values and skills with the intent of developing capable people, he said.
Mr. Val Lichtenstein, Kiwanis advisor to the teenage Board of Directors said "The only way to battle the so-called 'fun' of substance abuse is to provide something that's more fun, less expensive, and that won't kill you or land you in Northward.
"After all, who in their right minds would rather stand knee deep in swamps by the side of some dyke road being eaten by mosquitoes and sand flies, smoking dope, when they could be dancing cheek to cheek with their sweetheart to some good music under the soft, sparkling lights of Graffiti's."
