Thirty-two street boys of the Possibility Pro-gramme are to be removed from the streets of the Corporate Area in early January with the opening of a hostel on Goodwin Park Road, in Kingston.

The Rotary Club of St. Andrew donated the hostel, which was officially opened on Wednesday by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

The hostel was started under the watch of past president of the club, Earl Samuels, who said he was inspired to start the project from a personal experience he had had with an 11-year-old boy along Half-Way Tree Road.

Dream come true

The project got under way in 2004 with the acquisition of the land and fund-raising to get the required capital. But, it took two years before it was completed by Mr. Samuels' successors, Robert Gregory and Jennifer Anderson.

"I think I am the happiest person here this morning because, for me, this is a dream come true," Mr. Samuels said. "It has been long in coming, but we are here and it has been a struggle, but with the grace of God, we have arrived at a point where we want to be."

Dr. Jaslin Salmon, board chairman of the Possibility Programme, also said the hostel was a dream come true.

"This tremendous gift epitomises the Rotary motto, 'service above self'. You indeed have led the way," Dr. Salmon said. "The Possibility Boys, and indeed the nation, shall be forever grateful for this noble gesture."

The hostel was constructed at a cost of $15 million with the help of other sponsors, such as Scotiabank, the National Housing Trust, Allied Insurance Brokers and Ashtrom Limited, among others.

The Possibility Programme, which was launched by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in 2001, is the product of an initiative by the Programme Co-ordinating and Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Dr. Salmon said since inception, the programme had accepted some 234 young men. There are currently 13 boys in the centre where they are given breakfast and lunch each day.

Integration into school

The centre has helped many young boys, 15 years and under, to be re-integrated into the school system. Those who are older are referred to the non-traditional programmes for remedial education.

The programme also strengthens, counsels and helps young men to re-connect with their families and their communities.

Some of these boys were also placed into apprenticeship pro-grammes or jobs.

'It has been long in coming ... but with the grace of God, we have arrived at a point where we want to be.'