THE Desnoes & Geddes Foundation has amplified its efforts to foster personal and academic development among marginalised youth with the launch of the ‘No Male Left Behind’ second cohort in St Thomas.

The launch event was hosted recently at the Golden Shore Resort, featuring messages from the state minister in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Alando Terrelonge, Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern Dr Michelle Charles, and participation by students, mentors, parents, academic professionals and the wider community.

“The D&G Foundation has been at the forefront of championing education and mentorship in underserved communities in St Thomas. Recognising the critical need for mentorship and coaching for our at-risk youth, the foundation has taken a bold step forward with the No Male Left Behind programme.

“This initiative represents a beacon of hope, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a brighter future for St Thomas and Jamaica, the land we love,” said Terrelonge.

Charles echoed similar sentiments as she welcomed the work of the foundation.

“I want to thank the D&G Foundation, which has chosen to nurture these boys within our community. No Male Left Behind is an amazing initiative that seeks to guide boys into becoming our future leaders, helping them to positively impact their own lives and the lives of others, enriching their communities, Jamaica and the world at large,” said Charles.

Championing the significance of the initiative, D&G Foundation accountant Dennis Beckford shared the purpose of its establishment.

“No Male Left Behind was introduced to offer a safety net for marginalised youth in St Thomas. It is designed to create opportunities for growth, development and empowerment and was first [started] with 10 students from Yallahs High School.

“The pilot offered insight into new ways of approaching the implementation of specialised interventions that address the individual and collective needs of the participants. We are now better equipped to expand to three schools as we hope to make a more significant impact,” said Beckford.

The programme will benefit five boys from each of the three selected schools, Yallahs High, Robert Lightbourne High and Seaforth High. Three of the selected boys will be taken from the 10th grade and two from the 11th grade.

Guided by the programme’s six pillars, students will be exposed to mentorship, life skills training, career and social development, information on grants and linkages to scholarship opportunities, internship and career enablers, and resource distribution.

“The Desnoes and Geddes Foundation is putting up its hands first to ensure that No Male gets Left Behind and that we can build the society we want to live in by impacting lives and enriching communities,” said Beckford.

No Male Left Behind is an off-shoot of the foundation’s broader ‘No Mind Left Behind’ initiative, which fosters academic excellence and personal development through increased access to educational tools, social interventions, and experiential activities for youths three to 18 years old.