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A CHALLENGE TO DRAMA SOCIETIES IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND CHURCH YOUNG PEOPLES GROUPSTO PERFORM FOR YOUTUBE
A fictional, close-to-life play about a refugee's experience of fleeing Haiti to seek refuge in Jamaica in 2023.
Title: Crossing the Caribbean: A Refugee's Journey from Haiti to Jamaica in 2023
Act 1: Scene 1
Setting: A small village near Jacmel in Haiti
Characters:
Mama Lola, an elderly Haitian woman
Chakra, her grandson
Mimi, a neighbor girl
Mayor Simeon, the village mayor
Plot:
Mama Lola's house is burned down in a political riot.
The family flees to the nearby forest for safety.
Chakra is separated from his family and seeks help from a local priest.
The priest directs Chakra to a boat bound for Jamaica.
Act 1: Scene 2
Setting: A boat bound for Jamaica
Characters:
Chakra
The priest
Other Haitian refugees
Plot:
The boat is overcrowded and unsafe.
The refugees are at the mercy of the sea and the elements.
They witness the death of some fellow passengers.
Chakra forms a bond with another refugee, Mimi.
Act 2: Scene 1
Setting: A Jamaican refugee camp
Characters:
Chakra
Mimi
Mr. Thompson, a Jamaican official
Other Jamaican residents
Plot:
The refugees arrive in Jamaica and are taken to a refugee camp.
Chakra and Mimi are separated again, with Chakra being placed in a different camp.
Mr. Thompson interviews Chakra and Mimi, assessing their claims.
The refugees are given temporary shelter and rations.
Act 2: Scene 2
Setting: A local market in Jamaica
Characters:
Chakra
Mimi
Jamaican shopkeepers
Plot:
Chakra and Mimi meet again at a local market.
They struggle to adapt to their new environment.
Mimi finds work at a local factory.
Chakra becomes involved in a local gang.
Act 3: Scene 1
Setting: The refugee camp
Characters:
Chakra
Mimi
Mr. Thompson
Plot:
Chakra's involvement with the gang leads to trouble.
Mr. Thompson confronts Chakra and offers him a chance to leave the gang.
Chakra refuses and is expelled from the camp.
Act 3: Scene 2
Setting: A street in Kingston, Jamaica
Characters:
Chakra
Mimi
Jamaican police officers
Plot:
Chakra is arrested and imprisoned for his involvement with the gang.
Mimi pleads for his release, but he is sentenced to more time.
The play ends with Chakra's determination to escape and find a better life.
This play is a fictional account of a refugee's journey from Haiti to Jamaica in 2023, inspired by real events and experiences. The story follows the journey of Chakra, a young Haitian boy, as he flees his home country due to political unrest and seeks refuge in Jamaica. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges, makes new friends, and ultimately struggles to adapt to his new environment. The play explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the search for a better life.
Questions To Ponder:
What are some common challenges faced by refugees in Jamaica?
What is the process for seeking asylum in Jamaica?
By Dennis A. Minott, PhD.
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