THE German Embassy on Tuesday donated euro 11, 500 to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) youth development programme on Hope Road, Kingston to upgrade its welding facility and to start a barbering programme for students.

“We wanted to contribute to the education of students at the YMCA, so that they are able to compete in the globalised world later, and to take them off the streets,” explained German ambassador Volker Schlegel.

The YMCA youth development programme was founded in 1974. It currently caters to 150 students between the ages of 12 and 16. They are taught skills such as welding, as well as how to become young entrepreneurs. These students are usually slow learners, high school dropouts, juvenile delinquents, street children or have behavioural problems.

“Our main aim is to bring the students up to the literate level where they can read and write. This is done up to level 4 where they are allowed to take the Grade 9 achievement test,” said general secretary for the YMCA in Kingston Sarah Newland -Martin.

At level 4, students sit the Grade 9 Achievement Test, which will allow them to return to the secondary school system. However, if students are older than 16 years and have not made it to the fourth level, they may attend other outreach centres such as the YMCA/Amy Bailey training centre.