Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
Pamela Munro (left), member of Youth With a Mission, and Roxanne Miller sing at the launch of the 'Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness' School Motivation Programme at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TO EQUIP young Jamaicans with positive values and perspectives on nationhood, 'Hands Across Jamaica For Righteousness' launched the School Motivation Programme on Friday.
Under the programme, role models will visit schools starting September and speak to students on how they can apply the principles of the national Motto, Anthem and Pledge (MAP) to their lives.
Earl Richards, chairman of Hands Across Jamaica, said Jamaicans have repeated and recited MAP but, in most cases, without taking the time out to understand the principles embedded in them.
He was speaking at the launch of the programme at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.
"The objective of MAP is to become a patriotic national movement that employs creative projects, campaigns and events to unite Jamaicans across the diaspora in love, loyalty and service to the nation," Mr. Richards said. "This movement ... will be a change force that inspires Jamaica to turn from the destructive value systems and lifestyles that are destroying the soul of the nation."
Mr. Richards charged the hundreds of students who flocked the conference centre, to reject every negative statement which suggests that they cannot achieve anything good. He told the students that it is critical for them to recognise that they have potential to be of worth.
Guest speaker, Sheree Martin, assistant general manger for corporate communications at National Commercial Bank, said the principles of MAP are not the solution to the problems facing the country, but through it, "we will be able to build a brighter Jamaica".
Several activities are planned under the programme.
Schools will be involved in a poster competition and in October, a national homecoming will be held during Heritage Week.
