ROSE HALL, St James — Nearly 150 children who participated in the Rose Hall Football Camp for the SOS Children’s Village were awarded with certificates of participation and other prizes on Friday at the conclusion of its eighth annual one-week football clinic.

The 147 children, aged eight years and up, from the SOS villages in Stony Hill, St Andrew and Barrett Town, St James participated in the football camp under the guidance of former national players Aaron Lawrence and Linval Wilson; and trainers who were former residents of SOS villages.

Chni Golding, one of the participants in the football clinic, lauded the sponsors of the camp, which also provided self-development seminars. She said discipline is one of the camp’s greatest achievements.

“Over the years it has been a good experience. I’m grateful to the sponsors. I know it makes some difference in the children’s life, at least they are not sitting down not doing anything, but are developing a skill,” she said.

Marc Rollins of Rose Hall Development, which has been spearheading the programme since its inception, also thanked the other sponsors.

“I am just happy to see them when they are eating their lunch and playing, they are very happy. We are the major sponsors but we are very grateful to the many sponsors that make it possible because it is very costly,” Rollins said. “I am very proud to be a part of adding to the development of these children to become better people of Jamaica.”