LOCAL telecommunications company Flow and the Rotary Clubs of Jamaica have combined forces to help youths hone their leadership skills and increase their self-confidence.

The two organisations are now working to identify between 400 and 500 youths between the ages of 15 and 30 years old for leadership training at the Flow/Rotary Youth Leadership Conference & Awards (Flow/RYLA) on May 16, at the Courtleigh Auditorium in the capital.

The conference and awards is a part of the Flow/Rotary Leadership Initiative, a leadership training programme which recognises young people who have demonstrated positive leadership qualities.

Making the call for award nominees at a press conference at the Spanish Court Hotel last Monday, Flow/RYLA chairman Rotarian Tony Roberts said, “There are scores of youths in Jamaica with significant leadership potential which needs to be brought out in their communities, schools, churches.”

He added that the Rotary Clubs across the island have been asked to nominate conference and awards programme participants but that other organisations and individuals may also nominate people. He stressed that Flow/RYLA was not specifically targeting youth from “uptown areas”, but inner-city and at risk communities as well.

Flow CEO Michelle English lauded the Rotary Clubs for their work in moulding young leaders. Noting that Flow had teamed with Rotary on a series of similar initiatives, she said that the Flow/RYLA was particularly relevant as the young leaders will benefit tremendously from training from successful professionals in areas such as ethics, communication skills, problem solving, conflict management and resolution and community service.

Flow, English said, was committed to changing the way Jamaicans work and play, by providing state-of-the-art technology.

Four young leaders spoke at the Flow/RYLA press conference expressing appreciation for what they termed a “well-needed intervention”. The four – Kingston College student Oshane Hamilton; University of the West Indies medical student, Tamara Foster; Jamaica College prefect, Jerome Cowan and teaching assistant, Cindy Haynes – will be among participants at Flow/RYLA on May 16.

Introducing them as “leaders in their school and communities”, co-ordinating chair of the Flow/Rotary Leadership Initiative, Rotarian Andre Hylton said that their achievements to date were all the more remarkable because they live in inner-city communities.

“We must remember that not all mentors in all communities are positive role models so when we have leaders like these emerging we must commend and encourage them,” Hylton asserted.

Flow/RYLA application forms are available from Rotary Clubs across the island, Rotary Club HQ at the Jamaica Pegasus and can be requested via e-mail at rlijamaica@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is March 31.

In addition to the Flow/Rotary Youth Leadership Conference & Awards Programme, the Flow/Rotary Leadership Initiative has three other components:

. Lunch with a Leader, which gives young Jamaicans an opportunity to attend weekly Rotary lunches and to network with Rotarians and guests.

. Early Act, a service club for primary and preparatory school children five to 13 years old; and

. Leader Act/Rotary Community Corps through which stakeholders, including residents, church and community organisations work together to improve life in their community.