Twelve-year-old André Hutchinson (left) and his schoolmates Nicholas Francis (second left), 14, and André Black (second right), 14, inspect the cheque that the YMCA received from LIME. The telecommunications firm donated $1 million to the YMCA to help finance the institution's social outreach programme which targets at-risk youth. LIME Country Manager Geoff Houston (right) made the presentation. Looking on is Diana Taylor, YMCA's project coordinator. - Contributed
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) has been boosted by a donation of $1 million from telecommunications firm LIME.
The contribution will go towards YMCA's social outreach programme, which targets at-risk boys and young men. More than 170 males are currently enrolled in the programme, which is based at the Y's Hope Road, St Andrew, complex. Many of the boys have dropped out of school or are victims of abuse or neglect and several have behavioural problems.
At the Y they receive counselling as well as literacy, numeracy and skills training.
"LIME has the greatest respect for institutions like the YMCA that are providing such vital social services and we are proud to be able to support the very meaningful work that is being done," said Geoff Houston, country manager for LIME Jamaica.
"It's disturbing to think what might happen to some of these young boys if we didn't have a place like the YMCA with programmes that not only look after them but also help them to develop skills that will make them independent and productive in the long run."