|
Rawle Younge is a DJ with BlueSKY, a Toronto based full-time professional mobile disc jockey company. The social purpose enterprise specializes in playing Top 40, 80’s, Euro and Rhythm and Blues music for weddings, corporate events and parties while training and employing youth who are moving out of foster care.
Rawle moved from Georgetown, Guyana to Toronto in 1996. In 2007, Rawle joined a weekly men’s group at the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre where he found out about BlueSKY DJ Service. He was excited at the possibility of earning money through his love of music, so applied for a position. After four weeks of training at the Scratch Lab DJ Institute, and with the support of manager George McClure, Rawle started working as a DJ with BlueSKY.
In Rawle’s own words, “Having the opportunity to become a member of BlueSKY DJ service has been exhilarating. When I heard that the CAS (Children’s Aid Society) had their own DJ business, I became ecstatic. I had always wanted to learn how to DJ. At the time, I was unemployed and out of school. Being a member of BlueSKY DJ service has not only helped me to become a good DJ. …ever since joining the program I have gained a new perspective on life and have bettered my approach to doing things. I was able to save up just enough money from the work we had done to apply for school at Centennial College this past January. I am now taking Community Justice Services at the college which has been a thrill. I am also now voluntarily coaching kids in the higher priority neighborhood of Flemington Park. I look forward to finishing my program at school and moving on to studies at university. Nothing has been more exciting, and beneficial to my life thus far than being a member of BlueSKY DJ Services.” |  | | Rawle Younge of BlueSKY DJ |
Now 20 years of age, Rawle continues to work as a DJ and to mentor new BlueSKY employees. He is renting a townhouse after making a connection with the building’s owner through BlueSky. In addition to working as a DJ, coaching basketball, and going to Centennial College, Rawle is facilitating the weekly men’s group at PARC. He’s also a volunteer with the Students Commission of Canada, a project that brings together youth, the Toronto Police Service, community agencies and schools. He speaks to students at schools about alternatives to gang violence and staying out of trouble.
When Rawle finishes his course at Centennial College, he would like to study Political Science or Social Work at the University of Toronto. Eventually he would like to start a basketball organization for children.
BlueSKY DJ Service is owned and operated by the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre. The Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC) is a non-profit, joint project of the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, the Catholic Children's Aid Society and Jewish Family and Child Services that assists youth who are presently or have been in the care of any of these agencies.
|
