Planeta Jeune Kai Lu (PJKL), Youth Venture Project of GP Youth 2008

The students who went to the Dominican Republic in the Summer of 2008 formed a venture called Planeta Jeune Kai Lu (PJKL), which means Planet Happy Youth in Spanish Creole and Chinese. This group was created to help keep get fellow students involved in after school activities, particularly something that can involve them in cultural exchange and increase cultural awareness.

On May 14th 2009 some of the students of Planeta Jeune Kai Lu staged their first after school program. It was planned by Fanelia and Stephany who promoted a Poetry Slam among students at the International High School at Prospect Heights. On the day of the event, the two students coordinated every aspect of the experience including picking the music, setting up microphones, getting students to the classroom where the event was to be held, order and picking up refreshments and getting participants involved.

There were many students who came to the event. It went from 4PM-5:30 PM. It started with some Spanish-language music performed by 3 of the participants. Two students, one member of PJKL and one participant, read poems to a silent group. Poems were read in both English and Spanish. All poems were well received by the crowd and were then followed by more Spanish-language music from the participants. At the end there were refreshments and music where participants began to sing and dance.

The event was a great success- participants enjoyed themselves and arrangements were made for events to be held every week on Thursdays. The next session will be on May 21st 2009. Let’s hope that this is just as great of a success!