Hope for our land, an outreach ministry conceptualised earlier this year by a group of Westmoreland natives in response to the social challenges facing the country, will host its first major fund-raiser at the Mannings school on Saturday.

The fund-raiser, a concert entitled We can make a difference hopes to make enough money to provide a financial back-up system for at least one student in each of the parish’s high schools.

Westmoreland has seven high schools – Frome, Petersfield, Mannings, Little London.

Ultimately we want to be able to offer full scholarships to students, but for now we aim to provide a financial support system to assist those who are finding it difficult to get to school,” Wayne Wallace, President of the organisation told the Observer West.

Wallace will be assisted in his efforts by an executive comprising vice-president, Viannie Morgan, Chaplain, Hopeton Blake; secretary, Andrea Reid, project officer, Hope Anderson and director, Wayne Cameron.

Wallace told the Observer West that the tickets which will cost children $200 and adults $400 were available within the schools. The concert which will feature Acapella Flames, Rising Star finalists SLR, Jo-jo Stewart, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s junior gospel champion singer Chadique Young and his sister Caydonia, among other talents, will start at 8:00 pm.