Strategic board game programme aims to build critical thinking and life skills among parish youth.
Joey Issa, Custos of St Ann, is spearheading an ambitious effort to establish backgammon clubs across at least seven secondary institutions in the parish, according to reporting by the Jamaica Observer. The Custos Commando Backgammon campaign represents a deliberate push to introduce young people to a game that, Issa argues, offers far more than entertainment.
Issa outlined the educational philosophy behind the initiative, emphasizing that backgammon teaches students to think strategically, make sound decisions, and accept the consequences of their choices. Beyond the game itself, participants will develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills while cultivating patience and discipline. The programme also creates space for healthy socializing and competition among peers.
The campaign will target York Castle High, Ferncourt High, Walkerswood Academy, Browns Town High, Ocho Rios High, Steer Town Academy, and Aabuthnott Gallimore High School. School-based clubs will allow students to learn the fundamentals, practice regularly, and compete against one another in a structured environment.
Issa himself is an active backgammon player; he recently reached the finals of the 6th annual International Jamaica Backgammon Tournament, held at Bamboo Blue in St Ann. His personal involvement underscores the Custos’s genuine commitment to promoting the game as a vehicle for youth development across the parish.
Backgammon is a two-player board game played with counters and dice on table boards, with a history spanning thousands of years. The game has long been recognized for its blend of strategy and chance, making it an educational tool for developing analytical thinking.
This initiative reflects Jamaica’s broader commitment to enriching youth development through non-traditional academic programmes. Strategic games like backgammon offer Caribbean young people alternatives to screen-based entertainment while building cognitive skills valued in higher education and professional settings.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: Community · Island routing: Jamaica
😄🇧🇧🇬🇾. Sad Thing