As the sun set on Saturday, May 16, dozens of children began trickling into what was once an empty lot on the corner of East Street and Masons Addition, drawn by the lure of a free outdoor movie night as the scent of fresh popcorn greeted them at the gate.
The inaugural Cinema in the Park, hosted by The Children's Haven Bahamas, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower the youth through education, screened the classic film "To Sir, With Love", starring Sir Sidney Poitier. By the time the film's opening scene appeared on the screen, more than 200 children from the Bain and Grants Town area had settled in for their Saturday night outing.
"Film is an excellent tool to educate the youth," stated The Children's Haven Bahamas principal Beat Schlagenhauf, a Bahamian resident of Swiss decent. "We chose 'To Sir, with Love' because many of these children do not know who many of their Bahamian heroes and black heroes are, heroes such as Sir Lynden Pindling, Nelson Mandela, and Sir Sidney Poitier. Once these kids know about the lives of these heroes they should be proud to be black, Bahamian and dream big. In this film Sir Sidney dreamed big and in the film he helped children. The children of this community should know that they can too reach success if they have a dream and have hope."
The event space, donated by Central Food Fair, was transformed into the ultimate outdoor movie venue, just across the street from the home of the iconic Cinema Theatre. A 22-foot open air screen, donated by The Island House, introduced the children to Sir Sidney Poitier, himself once a young Bahamian from humble means with an uncertain future who rose to be named one of the greatest male stars of all time. His daughter, Pamela Poitier introduced the film. She informed the children that her father once lived in the East Street area and encouraged them to never stop dreaming.
Integral in coordinating the event were community leader Valentino "Scrooge" Brown, filmmaker Kareem Mortimer, Dr. Daniel Johnson, minister of youth, sports and culture, The Children's Haven Bahamas principal Beat Schlagenhauf and marketing and public relations firm Fusion IMC.
Cinema in the Park will be held monthly for the children of Bain and Grants Town. It is a part of The Children's Haven Bahamas' greater initiative to provide a safe space where children can have a hot meal, a space to do homework, intensive sports training and a focus on the arts.
The Children's Haven Bahamas is a non-profit organization that empowers the youth through education. Its mission is to re-ignite hope in young persons through positive projects that educate them on a variety of disciplines including sports, the arts and conservation.
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