Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

As part of its continued support for AIDS awareness and empowerment, members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) continue to visit places where persons with disabilities and other deformities reside.

On Wednesday a delegation from the Irish cricket team visited the 3Ds project in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

At the facility, which helps to stimulate andtreat persons who have disabilities, Andrew White, a member of the Ireland cricket team, interacted with more than 30 adolescents who are part of the Spanish Town facility.

As a show of his appreciation, a bat and ball were presented as a way of starting the game of change for persons who have disabilities.

Aim of the exercise

According to Gerlin Bean, managing director of the 3Ds project, the aim of the exercise was to continue the empowerment of persons by giving them coping skills, like speaking, and helping them to walk.

She noted that in St. Catherine, while there were 30 persons who visited the 14 Monk Street location, there were more than 400 in all who benefited from 3Ds activities. She also said the project a non-governmental one, continued to receive support from UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and the Labour Ministry, which allows it to grow.

Both UNICEF and ICC representatives promised to continue to aid in the development of persons with disabilities through lectures and workshops. They also had high praises for the projects.