Paul Nicolopulo (right) acting British High Commissioner to Jamaica, has the full attention of Sarah Robinson (left) as Shaunadale Anderson looks on during the United Kingdom-based Beacons of Progress and Achievement fast-start summer school closing ceremony at the University of Technology in St. Andrew yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

In an effort to rid the society of many of its social problems, the United Kingdom-based Beacons of Progress and Achievement (BPA) yesterday launched its Babies Early Childhood initiative for inner-city children.

The initiative was piloted in Windsor Heights in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, last month and 25 children between the ages of three and six participated in the three-week summer programme.

Linace Gordon, coordinator for BPA, said the initiative came out of the realisation that inner-city children, especially the very young, are left to idle during the summer holidays.

Ms. Gordon said the BPA Babies Early Childhood programme is aimed at working with early childhood institutions to enhance the productive use of children's time.

Waste of time

"We realise that wasteful use of time from so early is one of the factors that have contributed to many of us being ineffective adults bent on disruption as the only means of attention," she said.

She added: "It is about preparing the ghetto child at an early age for opportunities that will come later."

The children participated in a number of activities, including dancing, art and craft, and lessons in Spanish.

The BPA is the youth arm of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, based in London, England.