SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland – SHANICE Grant, 17, a resident of the inner-city community of Grotto, is among the scores of people in the Savanna-la-Mar area who have welcomed the opening of The Source centre, which will provide several communities with access to information technology and skills training resources.

She believes the centre will offer opportunities for unattached youths to receive training.

“The centre will take the young persons off the streets and help them to get certified. If more people get qualified, we will have a better Jamaica,” she argued.

The largest Source Centre established by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation, The Source Savanna-la-Mar, serves the communities of Russia, Seaton Crescent, Barracks Road/Gully Bank and Grotto.

It was officially opened by Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, last month.

Kenisha Pennycook, another resident from the Grotto community, believes that the centre will inspire young people to achieve what they want in life.

According to her, the facility would serve to “open their minds, keep them focused and teach them how to interact with their peers”.

Earl Jarrett, General Manager of JNBS and Chairman of the JN Foundation, said The Source provides an avenue for residents to achieve excellence.

“This Source will stimulate the economy within the community and promote viable businesses and harmonious inter-personal relationships,” he argued.

The facility is equipped with support facilities for small and medium-size businesses; hosts a Jamaica Business Information Centre (JAMBIC) and WiFi Hotspot; while also offering conference, training and meeting rooms.

Jarrett pointed out that over the last five years, the JNBS Foundation, in collaboration with local civic and private sector partners, has established a chain of centres in August Town, St Andrew; Maverley, St Andrew; Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth; and Ocho Rios, St Ann.

The Governor General, on officially opening The Source Savanna-la-Mar on Barracks Road, declared it an “I Believe Initiative (IBI)” centre.

The ‘IBI’ is a values-based initiative, born out of the inaugural speech given by the Governor General, at his swearing in ceremony in 2009. The ‘IBI’ seeks to inspire and motivate Jamaicans to believe in their God-given potential and to contribute to building a prosperous and peaceful nation.

“The Source is an initiative which responds to so many of the needs identified by communities across the nation,” said the Governor General, as he addressed the official opening ceremony. “Its objectives resonate with my belief.”

“The partnerships, which brought The Source into being, are part of what is right with Jamaica,” he declared. “I believe that The Sources’ objectives will bring more and more people, especially young people, to develop self-esteem, lose their negative attitudes and believe in themselves.”

The Source opens Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.