Community project offers hope
Published:Saturday | August 3, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer
LINSTEAD, St Catherine:CHEVONNE CAMPBELL and Samantha Pinnock-Clayton pocketed top honours at Operation Hope's second graduation, held at the St Helen's Roman Catholic Church in Linstead, St Catherine, recently.
The project, initiated by the Linstead Community Development Committee (LCDC), placed emphasis on leadership, conflict resolution, social graces, and ethics.
The participants were also exposed to numeracy and literacy, community service, health care, and entrepreneurship during the eight-month programme.
The first phase of the initiative, launched in October 2011, was offset by a $300,000 grant from the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation.
Despite financial challenges, the LCDC was able to host the project the second time around with assistance from the Rotary Club of North St Catherine and St Helen's Roman Catholic Church. Moneague Teachers' College, Linstead campus, also gave support.
"We were able to run this project on a very low budget, but we were able to carry the programme just the same because we didn't pay for the presenters, the venue, and so on," Devon Smith, president, LCDC, explained to Rural Xpress.
McKenzie, a 20-year-old past student of the Tacius Golding High School who hails from Linstead, commended the LCDC for its vision.
"I must say thanks to the Linstead Community Development Committee for this programme, which really helps me to improve a lot - mentally and physically - and also to have a backbone and to progress. It helps me to believe that anything I want to achieve, I can do it no matter the circumstances," he told Rural Xpress.
For 26-year-old Pinnock-Clayton, a Dinthill Technical High alumnus, the programme affected her personal development positively.
"Operation Hope has helped to enhance my socialisation skills because I was a very stuck-up type of person. I didn't like to talk to people, and I didn't like people talking around me all the time, so I'm glad for the programme," the aspiring teacher said.
Guest speaker at the graduation ceremony themed 'I Can Almost See It', Roojae Kirlew, principal of the Cassava River Primary and Infant School, lauded the stakeholders of Operation Hope for rescuing several young persons.
He also implored the graduates to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams and to stay focused and not lose sight of their goals.
"You must not only dream, but you must accomplish them. Don't be sidetracked because there are some persons who are put in your way to cause you to divert and to try to lower your self-esteem," he said.
In his greetings, councillor for the Linstead division, Herbert Garriques, charged the graduates to capitalise on what they achieved from the programme.
"This is not the end of the road for you. This is just another step on that ladder, and after today, make sure that you make another stride on that ladder," he implored.
Minnett Anderson-Myers, Social Development Commission community develop-ment officer, Linstead, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Duane Wellington of the Linstead Police Station urged the graduates to continue to strive for excellence.
"Never ever give up. It doesn't matter where you are from, where you've reached in life, keep on striving. Life is a journey, not a destination, so stay focused. Stick to the task," charged Wellington.