Jamaican Educator Launches Global Peace Dance Marathon in Trench Town to Support Youth Development
- Empress Zaria
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KINGSTON, JAMAICA — March 8, 2026
Educator and cultural advocate Karen Francis, MEd — also known as Empress Zaria — will dance for 12 hours straight at Trench Town Culture Yard to raise funds for a 4-H Youth Development initiative that combines entrepreneurship, cultural arts, and Business English training.
The Peace Dance Marathon, taking place April 22, 2026 from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, aims to raise $500,000 to launch the Trench Town Community 4-H Youth Entrepreneurship Program, which will operate from the Trench Town Reading Center.
The program will provide young people in Trench Town with access to entrepreneurship education, cultural arts training, and Business English instruction to help them connect with global markets. Francis, a former U.S. State Department English Language Fellow, brings international experience to the initiative. During her fellowship she worked in Yaoundé, Cameroon developing programs that used English language learning as a tool for entrepreneurship, workforce development, and international business communication.
“English is the language of international commerce,” Francis explained. “If we teach our youth how to communicate confidently in English while building businesses rooted in their culture, we open doors for them to participate in the global economy.”
The Trench Town program will teach youth how to create and sell cultural products such as handmade jewelry, crochet items, paintings, pottery, and branded Trench Town merchandise while learning how to market those products internationally using English.
The initiative will also invite alumni from the U.S. State Department’s English Language Fellow Program and other international exchange programs to participate as mentors, guest instructors, and supporters. Despite Trench Town’s global cultural influence — producing legendary reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer — many children in the community still lack structured opportunities for education and entrepreneurship.
“I will dance for 12 hours so the children of Trench Town don’t have to grow up in the streets,” Francis said. “The birthplace of reggae music should also be a birthplace of opportunity.” The youth program aims to become financially sustainable within five years through youth run enterprises and cultural tourism activities.
The marathon also launches the Founding Supporter Circle, inviting 500 supporters worldwide to contribute $1,000 over one or 2 years to help reach the $500,000 goal.
Supporters around the world are also invited to join the Global Dance Challenge by posting videos dancing for 12 minutes and donating to the youth program using the hashtag #DanceForTrenchTown. Local businesses, artists, and community supporters can sponsor individual hours of the marathon or contribute to the youth initiative.
EVENT DETAILS
Peace Dance Marathon April 22, 2026 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Trench Town
Culture Yard, Kingston, Jamaica
MEDIA CONTACT
Karen Francis, MEd (Empress Zaria)
Director of Youth & Culture – Trench Town Culture Yard
Email: Empress@EmpressZaria.com
Website: www.EmpressZaria.com
Registration & Event Info: www.TrenchTownRadio.live
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