It's official, summer is over, and it's time to head back to school. But in one final hurrah to the summer break, the Saxons Superstars bellers and Kananga Entertainment are hosting a Back 2 School Jamboree.

Free haircuts for boys, hair braiding for girls (hair must be shampooed to receive service), all the hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks they can consume and back to school supplies will be given away throughout the day..

The highlight of the event that will take place on Mason's Addition Park on Saxons Way, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. will be the giveaway of 10 computers, to kids who earned grade point averages of 2.5 or higher during the last school year. That giveaway will be rivaled only by the Junkanoo rushout that will close out the day. Well, for the little ones, nothing may be better than the bouncing castles that will be set up for them to bounce the day away.

Kananga Section Community Liaison Jamal Smith, who organized the event with Jamiko Dean from the group's bellers section, says the event will be a fantastic way for the kids to end their summer vacation. But he also wants them to realize that the event is two-fold -- fun and educational and to show that even though they may be Junkanoo fanatics, they want to show that as men they should give back to the community.

"Giving away the computers is important to us because nowadays Internet access means a lot in the educational system," said Smith. "Things have really changed and the kids that have these items have more of an advantage because they can research things and have access to information through globalization."

The organizers approached corporate Bahamas for computers that they refurbished for the event. Children who earned at least a 2.5 or higher grade point average on their final report card must bring the proof to the event. Eligible students will all be placed in a barrel, and the first 10 names pulled will walk away with computers.

Smith said they also hope to register participants in the event in and effort to take the program on throughout the year with continuing education programs.

"Doing this was important to us because we represent the Mason's Addition community and a lot of times we have talented and skilled guys with talents and skills that people don't get to see other than them performing during Junkanoo on Bay Street.

"They don't know the leadership skills behind the scenes that take place, the organizational skills, so what we're trying to do is reach out to the children so that people can recognize that it's more than just rushing, and at the same time give back to our community."

While no one will be turned away, Smith says their target age group would be children between the first grade to junior school.

"This 'Back 2 School Jamboree' is basically a group of guys coming together and doing this out of pocket, and through sourcing donations. We want to show the kids that they can make an impact among themselves and that it doesn't have to be a government thing or under the umbrella of a big organization, and that by chipping away bit-by-bit, we can help society as a whole. From the outside, most people just know about the costumes coming onto Bay Street, but what has to be remembered is that you have persons from all walks of life gathering in an atmosphere and stories and experiences are exchanged. You have artists, architects, business managers in there who try to operate Junkanoo as efficiently as possible, so these kids are gaining skills from the older people, showing them how to do things more efficiently because people are bringing in their professional experience, artistic experience and passing it on to the younger persons in this environment.

Saxons Superstars Bellers And Kananga Entertainment

Back 2 School Jamboree

When: Saturday, August 31

Where: Mason's Addition Park, Saxons Way

Time: 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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