THREE hundred and eleven juvenile offenders from across the island who are currently on probation orders will, over the next two weeks, embark on what organisers call “a holistic journey towards positive transformation and empowerment”.

The offenders, aged 14 to 16 years, who have committed offences including unlawful wounding, possession of ganja and having sexual intercourse with girls under 16 years, will participate in the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) annual Challengers Camp, under the theme: “The transformation begins with you”.

Thirteen camps throughout the department’s three regions started Monday and will run until August 25.

The DCS said that the Challenger Camp, now in its 14th year, is aimed at stimulating the mind of the campers so that they will see the need to make the changes that are necessary to become the best that they can be. It will, the DCS said, expose participants to sessions dealing with self-esteem and self-worth; substance use and misuse; anger management and conflict resolution; healthy interpersonal relationships; career development and skills training; money management and entrepreneurial training; spiritual management and social graces.

Speaking at Monday’s launch of the camp at the Portmore Probation Office in St Catherine, chief probation after-care officer for region two Coleen Clarke said the highlight of the camp will be the visits by each group to two adult correctional centres. She anticipates that the camp will create opportunities to aid in the transformation of the participants’ life so that they can contribute to the realisation of Vision 2030.

“Reaching deviant youths in today’s society is deemed very challenging and there are no easy remedies when we are confronted daily with heightened levels of oppression, deprivation, guilt, anger and a sense of hopelessness.

“This mammoth task, therefore, requires intervention strategies that possess some level of creativity, vibrancy and allow for an intuitive use of self. It is against this background that the Challengers’ Camp was established and continues to receive overwhelming support,” she said.

Two participants from the probation programme at the St Catherine Probation Office told the Jamaica Observer that they were both hoping that the camp will make a difference in their lives.

A 15-year-old female student, who got in trouble with the law following a gang fight, said: “I hope to achieve a better me and be a great person.”

The young girl said she also plans to take full advantage of the session on anger management, as that has been an issue for her, although counselling has been helping.

Another participant, a 15-year-old male, who found himself on the wrong path after engaging in sex with an underage girl, said, “I hope to learn more how to have confidence in myself, to believe in myself and to never give up.”

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security Pearnel Charles Jnr, Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Fitz Jackson and Commissioner of Corrections Ina Hunter all encouraged this year’s campers to ensure that they take note of the theme and to bear in mind that they are ultimately in charge of their own transformation.

Minister Charles, during his interaction with three participants who are aspiring to become a police, a soldier and a teacher, told the youngsters that they are now at an age where responsibility for self is shifting towards them.

“You need to know what is needed to take charge of your destiny and this is what I need you to take from this, so my charge to you is to take charge of the responsibility for yourself, ask yourself the where, the what, the why and the when,” he said, before instructing the three youngsters to call him at the end of the camp with the steps on how they are going to pursue their respective career paths.

“Dreams are only dream; it’s just a dream unless you make it into your reality,” he said.

Member of Parliament Jackson, for his part, told the campers that they have a personal responsibility to make the right choices in life and not to judge others before looking at their own situations.

“All of us make mistakes, some more severe than others, but what is most important is what we learn from them and how to make ourselves a better person,” he said.

Commissioner Hunter, while emphasising how important the youth are, pledged to continue the work of the department in strengthening, empowering, and changing the lives of young offenders.

“You are important to us, we value you and mistakes are made by everyone but no matter what we do, ultimately change must begin with me,” she said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Senator Matthew Samuda, who charged the campers not to blame their failure on “badmind” like some Jamaicans, but to channel their aggression into hard work and to make the right choices for a success.

“Jamaica needs you to make the right choice; we in this room need you to make the right choice, but more importantly you need you to make the right choice. There is no point in you perpetuating a cycle of negativity because negativity in your brain and in your thoughts will make you make the wrong choice.

“Think positive; determine what you want for yourself and go out there and be the best that you can be in your particular discipline,” he said.