Sameer Younis (right), chairman of the Inner-city Development Committee, imparts words of wisdom to graduates in the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's (JCC) Civic Committee Youth Leadership Programme, during yesterday's graduation ceremony at the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association's (JMA) headquarters, Duke Street, downtown Kingston.
-Ian Allen photo
IN A BID to improve the quality of life of inner-city residents and their relationship with the police, the Civic Committee of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) yesterday successfully graduated more than 40 candidates through its Youth Leadership Training Programme.
The candidates, who are drawn from various inner-city communities in the Corporate Area, Portmore, St. Catherine and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), were presented with their certificates of accomplishment at a special graduation ceremony held at the Jamaica Manufact-urers' Association's (JMA) headquarters on Duke Street, downtown Kingston.
Guest speaker at the function, Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, congratulated the candidates on their achievement and highlighted the significance of their courage to step forward and become an instrument charged with the necessary leadership qualities to become role models in their communities.
POTENTIAL
The Minister said the potential for becoming a leader can be attained if more persons got involved, regardless of their background or where they live.
"Everybody says community leadership is lacking ...You don't have to be at the front, you don't have to be the person to be the voice of the community, but by setting example in your own way, you are able to provide the values that will bring back the community together," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said.
SOMETHING GOOD
"What I have found is that in every community there is something good and with just a little bit of leadership you would be surprised how that good thing can become even better."
Sameer Younis, chairman of the Inner-city Development Committee, in offering his share of congratulations, lamented the disintegration of good values and attitudes and the breakdown of the family unit in the country. He pointed to the need for community members to become involved in activities geared towards dispersing the message of proper values and attitudes.
Yesterday's graduation which marked the 31st batch of candidates to successfully complete the programme which started in 1993, is taught by tutors from the Institute of Management and Production (IMP), now part of the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and personnel from the Dispute Resolution Foundation.
