Community youth club on a mission to empower
Published:Saturday | February 25, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer
MANDEVILLE, Manchester:
THE LAND Settlement Youth Club is on a mission to empower the youth in their community, giving them a more positive outlook on life.
This is done through sports and other avenues in order to keep them away from a life of crime and other negative influences that society often brings. The club is currently attempting to build a clubhouse where the youth can have a place of their own to unleash their pent-up energies.
As Gary Dyer, a member of the executive body of the club, explained: "We had a situation where the youths always play football in the streets. We are trying to get them off the street as it poses a problem. Residents have been complaining and it is also not safe, so our aim is to rehabilitate the field in Land Settlement and get them to play on the field, not on the streets."
Dyer added: "We are not stopping there. We are aiming to build a clubhouse. We started the youth club six months ago. We have been meeting at a church in the community, but due to their many activities such as convention, at times we can't meet there. That is why we are in need of a clubhouse. We had a meeting with Donovan Mitchell. He has committed to putting up the roof of the clubhouse as we are putting up a temporary structure until we can build a permanent building."
On Ash Wednesday, the youth club staged a fun day at the community's playing field in an effort to raise funds to build the clubhouse. They had a wide range of activities including six-a-side football, a domino competition, a marathon race, sprint races, and obstacle races for kids three years old and over.
In its short existence, the club has been instrumental in directing some of the youth to HEART Trust/NTA programmes. "We have sent persons to the Ebony Park Agricultural School, to the Williamsfield Skills Training Centre, to learn computer repairs and web design, and also at the 4H programme in Denbigh where they are trained to drive tractors and other machinery," Dyer disclosed.
Negative forces
"We just want to find something positive for them to do instead of having them hang out on the streets where they are influenced by negative forces. At least in this way they can have a skill, a career, and make something of themselves in life."
Vice-president of the youth club, Stephon Williams, has given his support to the cause. "I grew up in this area. I was away for a while. When I returned, I found that the place is not like how it used to be as you have more youngsters. Most are idle - not doing anything," Williams said.
He added: "What we are trying to do is save some of them. The one person that you try to save might just save your life. I notice that once I sit and talk to them, they listen. Some of them just need guidance, someone they can look up to."