Free passes for children during Workers' Week

The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) an agency of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, will waive entry fees for children visiting its museums and other exhibitions at all locations during Workers' Week scheduled for May 16 to 24.

The Institute of Jamaica, in giving support to the 2010 Workers' Week/Labour Day commemorations, will host several activities across its divisions.

The activities will focus on the evolution of the workers' movement in Jamaica arising from the protests of 1938; and will engage with children in keeping with the theme of this year's commemoration, 'Our Children ... Show Them We Care.'

The activities will include:

An IOJ-hosted function honouring children and caregivers, featuring Mama Joy who has, for the past forty years, given distinguished service to the needs of children in the communities surrounding the IOJ complex, downtown Kingston.

An online exhibition by the National Library of Jamaica, from May 16 to 31. The exhibition will focus on National Hero Sam Sharpe as well as the rise of the labour movement in Jamaica. The exhibition will be accessible at www.nlj.gov.jm.

An audio exhibition from May 17 to 28 by the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank where visitors will be able to listen to the voices of persons who were either involved with or witnessed the events of 1938.

An exhibition entitled 'Other People, Other Cultures' by the Museums of History and Ethnography during the month of May:

• The IOJ Junior Centres will coordinate an art programme for the children in the surrounding community.

• The National Gallery of Jamaica will showcase young artists through Young Talent 5. This programme will feature the work of 14 young artists and will include a series of events involving children and youth during May.

• Liberty Hall ... the Legacy of Marcus Garvey will mount an exhibition on the national hero and his impact on the workforce during the period 1927 to 1935.