Wednesday 09 December 2009 was a very important day in lives of many Inner City kids as the Jamaica Defence Force, the Desnoes and Geddes Foundation and the Kingston Restoration Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Red Stripe House Conference Room for the development of the Old Pechon Street Brewery, downtown Kingston to become the Diageo Learning for Life Institution of Jamaica.

This signing will promote development and employment opportunities for young persons enrolled in the Diageo Learning For Life Projects Bartender and Artist and the JDF’s “Possibilities Programme.”

The Possibilities Programme was established by the Programme Coordinating and Management Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister approximately eight years ago.   It targets ‘unattached youths within the Corporate Area, particularly those who are often times at the major intersections wiping car windshields.

The JDF provides assistance in the execution of the programme by way of the provision of resource personnel, accommodation and the preparation of meals during a two week camp in the JDF Training Depot, Newcastle.

The JDF will also support Red Stripe’s Artist music by providing instructors from the Jamaica Military Band and the Regiment Drum Corps as well as Officers and Warrant Officers to act as mentors for young persons participating in the various youth enhancement programmes.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of this partnership that I hope will grow from strength to strength delivering the desired impact needed to build a better Jamaica,” said Major General Stewart Saunders, Chief of Defence Staff.

He went on to say that the partnership seeks to enhance youth development throughout the length and breath of our country in a properly structured and coordinated manner with a single focus, which requires that the final product is capable of contributing positively to society.

The candidates are taken through a series of activities geared at teaching them life skills with the view of achieving some form of re-socialization and re-integration in society by equipping them with the attributes necessary to function effectively in society.

“The Kingston Restoration Company will assist in facilitating the creation of employment and enterprise development opportunities for graduates of these programmes,” said Morin Seymour, Executive Director of the Kingston Restoration Company.

Also present at the signing was Senator Warren Newby, Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
He lauded all the participants for their initiative at this time of recession and said that there is truth to the notion that there is a direct correlation between crime and economics.

He went on to say that he was pleased that Diageo had devoted their resources to making a difference in the economic lives of young people.

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