Deejay Shaka Pow’s one-and-a-half-year-old Fully Bright School tour has created history in Jamaica.

Teachers across Jamaica have declared the initiative as one of the best edutainment packages to be hosted in schools. Many may say it surpasses the value of other tours, and this comes about without any sponsorship.

Only recently, one of the island’s most popular family shows, TVJ’s Hill And Gully Ride, had tongues wagging having shown the Fully Bright school tour several times. This was in the midst and aftermath of hurricane Beryl which brought devastation to the island’s 2.8 million population.

Viewers praised Fully Bright for bringing positivity and hope which left them with a good feeling going into another academic school year that comes in September 2024.

To add value to the initiative the Minister of Education, Fayval Williams, had endorsed the programme from its initial stage, with most principals giving the team a straight A at all 45 schools they have so far visited.

These include St. John’s Primary, Spanish Town High (St. Catherine), St. Andrew Primary, Edward Seaga Primary, Kingston High (Kingston), Oberlin High (St.Andrew), St. Mary’s College (St.Mary) and York Town Primary (Clarendon).

Fully Bright founder Dr. Garth McDonald in underscoring the team’s success says, “We began with a ‘Fully Bright’ song to counteract ‘Fully Dunce’ which was a threat to improving the standard of education. We also came out with Fully Bright bags with news that dunce bags were circulating on the market.

“We brought something new to the table. Going into schools with our message took the form of a school tour with a manageable team. We decided to place the message value and not just about pure entertainment which could be seen anywhere.

“We had the famous Black-er performing songs which promotes excellence and discipline; Lawyer Denniese Walker encouraging young men, in particular, to stay away from violence; Profit Revelation and Kryme Rate declaring an end to violence; Nana EQ guiding students to protect themselves from various abuses, with SoSuh Bonez bringing the dancehall energy. In addition, Mr. G, Scantana, and others for Season One.

“Students participated and were rewarded with Fully Bright certificates, buttons, and at times gift baskets.”

The ‘Love God’ deejay explains that their message was planned for devotions to get maximum audience; Jean’s Day, Boy’s and Girl’s Day as well as Prize Givings and Graduations.

Deejay Dr. Shaka Pow also conducts motivational speeches with interaction from students, and the performance of his Fully Bright songs is enhanced by dancers Anna Thickaz and Wassdemm.

Come September, the ‘Unconditional Love’ deejay says he will be giving more love to his Garth McDonald Scholarship Fund, more school tours, and events to make schools a better environment for learning.

(Photo contributed)