THE pelting St Thomas sun was no deterrent last week for the young men of Stokes Hall intent on building a goal net for an upcoming football competition among community clubs in the parish.

Having pooled their monies together to buy the materials, they laboured on the project themselves, rather than get a store-bought net.

“We found out that the net is very dear because is $24,000 for a pair so we decide to buy the cord for $1,500 and build it ourselves so we wouldn’t have to spend so much money on it,” Alex Barclay of the Stokes Hall Community Development Club told the Jamaica Observer North East.

The 19-year-old explained that he opted to teach his fellow club members how to make the goal net, having seen it done elsewhere once before.

Their motivation? The prize money to set up the first computer lab and homework centre in their deep rural community.

According to Barclay, the centre is badly needed to help the many students who do not have access to a computer. Club members, he said, are also prepared to volunteer their time to help the children with their homework.

“Once we are able to set up this computer room and homework centre, the students wouldn’t have to travel all the way to Morant Bay to use the Internet,” Barclay said.

Fellow club member Nigel Brown added that once the building is fully restored they are hoping to set up an area for residents to display craft items for sale, as well as to set up a restaurant.

The $100,000 prize the club received last year for cleaning up the Stokes Hall Great House and placing third in the best development club competition has already gone some ways in restoring the club house which was severely damaged by hurricane.

“Last year we used the money to slab off the top and the members put a lot of work into it,” the 24-year-old Brown said, adding that there is still a lot more to be done.

The club members said while they would like sponsorship to finance some of the projects they are hoping to get done, they are mindful of the financial constraints and as such have had to find more innovative ways of raising money.

“So when we (host events) we would like everybody’s support so that we can make some money to do all that needs to be done,” Brown said.

The club members explained that they have always been involved in various fund-raising activities, including a bonfire where members of the community are invited to a hot dog feast and mingling.

The club also gives back to the community through an annual back-to-school treat. The items for distribution, Brown said, are provided by political representatives.

The young men said their involvement in the club has helped to bring unity among themselves, as well as among residents of the surrounding communities.

“It brings a positive vibes, uniting the youths and also, instead of being idle on the road we can come over here and so something,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, however, Barclay explained that although a lot of the young people in the club have various qualifications, they are unable to secure jobs in the parish.

“I want to go college to study medicine, but my mother just can’t afford to send me now so I am hoping to get a job to fund my way,” he said.

The club was restarted three years ago by Keith Brown, a librarian and resident of the community.