WESTERN BUREAU:

IT IS said 'there is no place like home', yet young adults are increasingly finding solace among the borders of one character-building programme, and for some of them, it is the only place they call home.

Through the vision of founding director, Elizabeth 'Betty' Lawrence, and under the umbrella of Vision Makers World Reach, Youth Enhancement Service (YES) was created with a dedication to treat students as if they were part of a family while giving them a quality education.

The YES programme, also known as Ultimate Service Hospitality Training, has a diverse assembly, appealing to single mothers, college and high-school dropouts, low-income families, convicted felons and those hoping to enhance skills they already possess. In fact, some participants have no formal instruction beyond grade nine.

Looking for second chance

According to Lawrence, better known as Aunty Betty, all participants have one thing in common - they walk through the YES doors on Fort Street, Montego Bay, looking for a second chance at an education and for the betterment of their future.

Despite positive strides through the years, including more than a 90 per cent graduation rate, the programme has seen its fair share of sorrow. Throughout its existence, YES has lost some of its participants to violence.

"When these things happen right in our midst, we are convinced we are in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing," Lawrence said, referring to the increased acts of violence among Jamaica's youths.

Lawrence attributed the pro-gramme's Christian foundation as the ingredient for its success.

YES, a non-profit organisation, offers hospitality and technology training in the areas of restaurant service, customer service, front-office agent, computer technology, housekeeping and call-centre professionalism.

hope.evans@gleanerjm.com