59 Inner-City Youth Complete JCC Leadership Training Programme

Several inner-city residents from across the Corporate Area have been equipped with the necessary skills to improve their lives, having completed the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s (JCC) Youth Leadership Training Programme.

Approximately 59 youth who successfully completed the course, were presented with certificates during the graduation ceremony for the 56th cohort of the programme, held at the JCC Civic Affairs office, downtown Kingston, on May 17.

Programme participants were trained in the areas of conflict management, interpersonal skills, human relations, employability skills, community leadership, entrepreneurship and marketing and family life, over a six-week period. Participants also included members of law enforcement.

The training course, held in collaboration with the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), is an initiative of the JCC’s Civic Affairs and Inner-city Development Committees.

The aim is to improve the relationship between citizens and police, in order to reduce crime and to provide residents with the skills to contribute to the development of their communities.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, who was the guest speaker, told the graduates that they can accomplish anything they want to despite their circumstances.

“Regardless of where we are born, regardless of the community we are brought up into, regardless of who our parents are, that whatever we decide as individuals to accomplish, with determination, resilience and focus we can achieve,” Mr. Robinson said.

He also cited Senator Floyd Morris as a role model, who, despite his disability has become the first visually impaired President of the Senate in Jamaica.

“He is the President of the Senate not because he is differently able, but he is the President because of who he is and we can all be whatever we decide to be in our own lives. It may not be a career in academia, public life or business, but whatever you set your mind to, whatever you apply your strengths to, you can block out all the negatives around you, because there will always be obstacles in your way, but you can accomplish what you wish,” Mr. Robinson said.

He also challenged the graduates to create their own job opportunities instead of depending on the different sectors of the society to provide jobs for them.

For his part, Chairman Civic Affairs/Inner-city Development Committee, JCC, Sameer Younis, urged the participants to become economically independent and to focus on personal development and further their education.

Participants were from communities such as Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Bull Bay, Dunkirk, Mountain View, Daytona, Fletchers Land, Cumberland, Rae Town, Olympic Gardens, Harbour Heights, Vineyard Town, Waltham Park, Wildman Street and August Town.

CONTACT: LATONYA LINTON