The younger generation of Ithaca

THE history of Ithaca does not go unnoticed. Preserving culture and tradition is important in Ithaca, and the older population greatly emphasises it. However, the younger people of Ithaca say that as important as tradition is, space needs to be made for new traditions and more modern practices. Not kicking the village’s history and authentic African practices to the curb, but rather creating more space for young people and perhaps some new traditions.

Ithaca is the only home 17-year-old Kaycia Benjamin has ever known. Kaycia recently graduated from Bushlot Secondary School. Her family and friends describe her as vocal, outspoken and highly opinionated. Kaycia shared some of her opinions on the development of Ithaca in the years she has known the community. “We have a problem with unemployment And you find that a lot of people go into teaching and nursing because it is easy to get into,” she stated.

Ithaca is far away from the capital city. Most of Kaycia’s family members who work also face the challenge of travelling to and fro for work. Kaycia’s aunt, for instance, who works in Georgetown, makes the commute from Ithaca to Georgetown about three times a week. Kaycia herself is currently thinking about her next steps into the world of work after graduation. In her community, however, she would like to see the introduction of more facilities in hopes of creating more job opportunities. Regardless, she is happy living with her family in Ithaca, and come what may, she will continue to call the community home.

Located near the entrance to Ithaca is a shop owned by the Frantzen family. Mother and son duo Elvin ‘Gussie’ Frantzen and Deloras Frantzen run a small convenience store in Ithaca. Deloras has lived in Ithaca for over five decades and her son was born in the village. “Raising a family at that time was easy. The conditions then were okay for the generation. There was not too much of brightness and excitement. They could have focused on the future,” she said. Deloras further added that Ithaca was the perfect place to raise a family at the time. The young people then, as she explained, had far fewer distractions and were far more focused on important things.

Times in the community have changed. The relationship among neighbours, however, has not. Elvin is one of Ithaca’s young men. He said there have been subtle changes in the village’s customs and way of life with the younger generation. But they do still maintain the same brotherly love Ithaca is known for. He stated that, “The relationship between me and friends in the community is good. We do not fight or have any problems.” Farming in Ithaca is another aspect that is undergoing change. Increasing challenging situations with farming are causing young people to turn to alternative forms of employment.

A large percentage of people from Ithaca work at the Blairmont estate. As much as this is a job opportunity, the young people, particularly the young men, would like to see more provisions made for other work and community pastimes. Ithaca is home to a basketball court, a popular spot for the community’s young people. Elvin is interested in sports, and he sees great athletic potential in the young people of Ithaca. Sports, to any extent, in any community, has the potential to keep young people positively occupied and can open doors of untapped potential.

Nickola Benjamin is a 21-year-old who lives in Ithaca. As a young mother, she echoes the sentiment of countless other younger people: the issue of looking for a job straight out of high school, but the lack of experience is their biggest problem. Nickola has become a part of the government’s CIP initiative. She stated that although it is not perfect, it is a place to begin, learn and develop later on. “It was difficult getting a job. I was a vendor before beginning the 10-day work. I joined a month after I got my son, so about eight or nine months now.”

Nickola explained that the CIP work was beneficial to her. As a mother, she found that it created more time for her son and for herself. Nickola works at Ithaca’s daycare centre. She understands the opinions of people who question the permanence of the CIP work, but Nickola does not see it as something permanent. Rather, she sees it as a starting point, “I see it as something good for young people to do. Rather than sitting down at home, you can make some money, and you do not have to depend on anyone,” she shared. All of Ithaca’s young people are adamant about not deserting the old way of life. But they are simply searching for a way to add new practices.