Hands Media Campaign to Promote Unity and Peace

‘Raise the Standard, Change the Nation,’ is the theme of the multi-media campaign launched today (March 3) by Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness (HANDS), with the aim of promoting unity, peace and hope in the nation.
The 12-week campaign, which was launched at King’s House, is in response to the challenging crime situation in Jamaica.
Primarily a radio and television campaign, the goal is to encourage Jamaicans to focus on the vision, standards and principles embedded in the national motto, anthem and pledge, as a “beacon of hope and a roadmap containing directions for national development”.
Several media houses have agreed to support the programme by carrying the messages of the campaign throughout its duration. The song ‘Let’s Join Hands’ and the feature product of the campaign, a 90-second inspirational video, which will be aired on television stations, were among the promotional items unveiled at today’s launch.
Additionally, the organizers have produced four 45-second messages for radio, which feature international reggae artiste Judy Mowatt; a prayer; a message from a former gunman turned Christian, and an inner city youth counsellor.
HANDS will bring the campaign to schools and provide calligraphic prints of the motto, anthem and pledge for 1,000 educational institutions across the island.
Keynote speaker at the launch, Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke, in lauding the campaign, said the time had come for the redemptive forces to intervene and bring about positive changes to the society.
He posited that Jamaica, with its diversity of cultures, was poised to lead the world but nationals must come together to heal the nation. “We are going to have to join forces to heal the nation,” he stated. The Governor General further highlighted the important role the media would have to play in bringing success to the campaign.
Phase two of the campaign will begin in May with emphasis placed on the schools across the nation.HANDS was launched in March 1995 as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a mission to communicate the vision, standards and principles that are enshrined in the nation’s motto, anthem and pledge.