Dozens of students from schools in and around Hannah Town have begun to use the auto skills facility under the Learning for Life Programme launched recently by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) and officials of the Hannah Town Police Station and Kingston Western Division Office.

The pogramme which is housed at the police station aims to boost literacy and numeracy skills for at risk youths in depressed communities.

Speaking at the ceremony, which was supported and sponsored by corporate giants LIME, chairman of the VPA, Dr Elizabeth Ward, said there is "unmistakable need to merge efforts to improve literacy skills and peace building strategies as a way to deter young people from delinquent activities and crime". She noted the importance of exposing those in the inner city who are prevented from acquiring education due to economic, cultural or social reasons to the programme as a means of "deterring their attraction to the spoils of armed violence and drugs".

The Learning for Life programme has at its core computer-based literacy and numeracy programmes as well as a mentorship and life skills component. Dr Ward said the decision to implement the programme with the assistance of the police was taken in an effort to "partner with the police to increase their outreach activities in the division".

The Learning For Life programme has 12 centres operating across Kingston.