Wesrok is planning a gospel concert and cultural extravaganza for October that he hopes will be able to raise funds in support of his Downtown Youth Development Foundation.

He is trying to raise $2 million to provide core funding to push educational and academic assistance programmes targeting at-risk youth in the Riverton communities and its environs.

He will be enlisting gospel acts, rallying them to what he believes is a worthwhile cause.

“Most of these youths have been neglected by the social system and as such make these youth vulnerable to crime and violence. As a result of this social and political neglect, these communities are among the vilest in Jamaica. But I believe we can make a change,” said Wesrok, whose real name is Percival Buddan.

Through his Downtown Youth Development Foundation, founded over 15 years ago, Wesrok has decided to revamp the organisation and relocate its headquarters to Six Miles, Kingston.

“This is a significant investment in a dream to help disadvantaged youths. We now have a home and headquarters, a physical manifestation of my overall dream. My main goal is to seek out at-risk youths and to provide spiritual, economic, and physical support for them under the new theme ‘Love Lifted Me’,” he said.

The concert will be used as a catalyst to simultaneously christen the new headquarters and spark the philanthropic mission.

Wesrok, who has carved out a reputation for his unique brand of country-reggae, believes that music can transform lives.

“That is why I do music with a message, and what better way to drive home the message than with a powerful gospel concert,” he said.

Currently he is working with the Tivoli Gardens Restoration Project and is providing assistance to various families in meeting their daily financial needs, especially as it relates to educational support for children.

This weekend, Wesrok will head off to Chicago, USA, to forge deeper relationships with overseas partners to

help fund his foundation. He issued a public call on the support of the business community and deep-pocketed individuals to tap into their altruistic spirit and pledge to help the nation’s disadvantaged children.

“I cannot do it by myself, I need like-minded, patriotic people who want to help Jamaica be the paradise I know it can be,” he said. “Together we all can make a difference.”

Wesrok hails from the rural district of Swamp Lane in Bog Walk, St Catherine. He has released a number of country-reggae songs such as Left Out in the Dark, Poor Country Boy, and Born as a Winner. His most popular song to date is Try to Hold Me, featuring Masicka.