KINGSTON, Jamaica – Co-chair of Project STAR, Keith Duncan, is urging Jamaicans to work together to empower and uplift young people in marginalised communities in an effort to transform their lives.

“The scale of the challenges requires an ‘all hands-on deck’to approach. We cannot leave it all up to the government, we all, as citizens and institutions in J3amaica, must contribute at an individual level to the transformation of lives for a better future,” he said.

Duncan made the appeal while addressing a passing out parade of the Jamaica National Service Corps Intake, recently at the Jamaica Defence Force at Up Park Camp in Kingston.

“The overarching point that I am making is that we all must take a whole ‘a wi approach’ and have a collective vision and drive in our individual lives, in our businesses, in our workplace actions, initiatives and programmes that transform lives for a brighter future for the Jamaica land we love,” he added.

Addressing the graduates, Duncan informed them that the training they have received transcends being employed and fulfils a collective mandate for Jamaica that includes positive engagement, positive attitudes, and better citizenship.

“You are now among a group of Jamaicans who have been exposed to the core values of discipline, integrity, honour, courage, commitment, and loyalty. Your exposure to this type of training would have enhanced your capacity for teamwork, problem solving and adaptability,” he said.

“You have been prepared and now have an awesome responsibility to the youth in your communities, across Jamaica to ‘transform lives for a better future,” he stated.

He urged them to harness their newfound skills and values to shape a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their nation.

“This is the transformational mindset that you should all have, it should guide your thoughts, your interactions and your actions which should have a positive impact on all that you do in transforming lives,” he said.

He extended heartfelt commendations to the instructors and personnel of the JDF for their invaluable contribution to shaping the next generation of defenders of Jamaica’s sovereignty and security.

Reflecting on the pivotal role of the JDF in safeguarding the nation’s interests and fostering growth and development, Duncan emphasised the graduates’ newfound responsibility as proud members of this esteemed institution. He highlighted the core values of discipline, integrity, honour, courage, commitment, and loyalty instilled in them, underscoring the critical role they now play in upholding these principles and serving as beacons of positive change in their communities.

He lauded initiatives such as Project STAR, a collaborative endeavour between the private sector and government agencies aimed at fostering social and economic renewal in underserved areas, as examples of transformative change.

Duncan stated that Project STAR has been working closely with HEART Trust/NSTA to implement employment readiness programmes and provide access to jobs in the private sector. He said that entrepreneurial programmes are also delivered in these communities.

“We have had good results to date, and I have personally seen many lives transformed in the 18 months of the programme,” he said.

Project STAR is currently operating in neighbourhoods in East Downtown, Kingston; May Pen in Clarendon and Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland.