Kingston, Jamaica…[Nigel Coke/ANN/IAD]
Over 40 young men in Jamaica's inner-cities of Montego Bay, Spanish Town and Kingston have been initiated into a program launched by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to help them resist crime, violence and drugs. The program, called the Society for the Collaborative Lifting and Advancing of Inner-city Males (S-CLAIM), is designed to foster the social and educational development of inner-city young men. The program was officially launched August 23.
“This project… is one whose significance goes way beyond some persons being reached,” said Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica. “Any program that can be initiated to help our young men is very important to this nation's future.”
The young men to benefit from the project will be exposed to higher learning from Northern Caribbean University and be able to use the medical facilities of Andrews Memorial Hospital. The boys at each school will also be assigned a mentor.
During the life of the program, the participants will receive basic necessities to ensure continuous attendance in school, free medical and dental checks and exposure to various places of interest, both locally and abroad. They will be attend seminars once per quarter, and go on field trips once a year.
According to Desmon Robinson, director of ADRA-Jamaica, the inner-city was chosen for this project to offer positive opportunities to those hardened by existing conditions.
“S-CLAIM represents a microcosm of what must be done,” said Robinson. “When young people are given the right tools, they will freely dream good dreams, nation building dreams, and see visions, uplifting visions. When they are not given such they see nightmares and become nightmares to our society.”
“S-CLAIM is built on the assurance that in the inner-cities of this nation lay the best talents of the future,” he added. “Without collaborative efforts, latent talent will become a lethal weapon.”
“Something has to be done to rescue our young men who are at risk. I want to thank ADRA for assisting to do something about rescuing our youths at risk, not just identifying that there is a problem, but finding a solution to the problem,” said Prime Minister Simpson-Miller.
