Teens tackle life's concerns; 11 area students participate.

Byline: Catherine Sudue

WORCESTER - Gertura Gbarbo was not the only one who cried during the program while the high school students reflected on hardships in their lives.

Gertura, 15, migrated from Liberia to the United States in 2004 and was barely able to read and write.

Recently, the South High Community School scholar went to Camp Davis in Charlestown, R.I., with 10 other local teenagers for the Project RESPECT 2008 Leadership Camp. The six-day program run by the Rhode Island Institute for Community and Justice allowed 35 students, 14 to 19 years old, to participate in a host of workshops and discussion groups tackling issues such as race, power, privilege, sexuality, leadership and diversity.

"We compared things that were happening to our real lives," said Gertura, a sophomore. "I am a shy person. I don't really express myself and after attending the program, I have been able to express myself more."

The 11 local youngsters, the only Massachusetts students to take part in the program, were selected, as were the others, through essays they wrote on how they felt the leadership camp could benefit them.

"It allows (the students) to look at leadership and diversity and what it means to them," said Nanda Shewmangal, assistant director for programs at RICJ. "Sometimes youth tend to make assumptions by face value. Project RESPECT allows them to look at different socio-economic backgrounds and empowers them to become more positive role models for other young people."

Gertura recalled Gender Night being the most memorable and impressionable of her Camp Davis experiences. She said the girls and boys were separated and discussed gender issues and the troubling factors of relationships and marriage. Later, the males and females were brought together to discuss the opinions and assumptions made about the other gender.

"We (the girls) didn't know that the boys were asked the same questions we were asked until everyone was brought together," she said. "Many people were offended by the views that each group (gender) had about the other."

Ms. Shewmangal said that Gender Night had a strong impact on not only the youth but her as well.

"Everyone was in tears. The male and females were in tears, even, I was in tears," she said. "Many of the youth there have gone through such powerful struggles."

Jermaine Munn, 15, said he enjoyed the exhibition of talent and the leadership building workshops.

"We learned about African drumming and I performed a piece on the drums. I learned a lot and it was really fun," the Doherty Memorial High School student said.

Jermaine said after participating in the workshops he believes he can improve his environment by doing community service and through other community efforts.

According to Robert Jones, consultant for RICJ, it is important for the youth to grow in a community where they feel free to be themselves. The former co-director of Project RESPECT described his excitement as the youth expressed themselves during the week and compiled ways to make their community better.

"It is amazing to really see those `wow' moments that occur in those 16-year-old minds - to see how people grow and come into their own," he said. "It gives me the energy to work through the year. I can't wait until the summers. I feel good knowing that they are able to discover themselves."