Teens give high ratings to YUTE programme
Published:Saturday | May 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
THE OLD adage says 'seven brothers, seven different minds', but 19-year-old Kyle and 16-year-old Ryan Wallace have similar ambitions. Both youngsters hail from the Arnett Gardens community and are now involved in the Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) programme at the Inner City Ministries complex in Arnett Gardens.
Kyle developed an interest in mechanical engineering while attending Charlie Smith High School and joined the YUTE programme to continue the advancement of his dreams.
"I started from last year, and I just take what I can and try to get myself to a higher level. At the end of the day there must be something there for me. Being on the corner won't make me achieve what I want, it only sets me back and I don't really want that," Kyle said.
Both siblings live with their mother and four brothers and sisters. Ryan said his main aim is to become independent so he can have a better life and take care of his mother.
"To sit on the corner every day and look into people's face it doesn't work. It doesn't put money into my pocket. I need money in my pocket and I see that YUTE programme is really interested in us and they can help us," Ryan said.
Benefits from programme
As a result of being involved in the programme, Ryan said he has learnt to control his anger and think more positive.
"I learned about self respect and don't speak when somebody else is speaking and those basic stuff. When, I am not in a good mood I get angry easily, so I learn to control that too," Ryan said.
Andre McFarlane, a trainer in the YUTE programme at Inner City Ministries, said there are persons in the programme with diverse issues and in a formal setting they would not be able to adjust.
"They might have been in traumatic experiences such as gun violence and we sense that there may be challenges in their psyche, and as such they ... get irritable. They just cannot cope in a natural setting," McFarlane said.
"We try to create a setting where they can learn, where we teach them conflict resolution, how to live among their friends and family. We set the atmosphere, one that is just not a classroom, one that persons are comfortable enough with each other and so we can interact," he added.