Many times when men are murdered due to gang violence, they leave behind young kids. These children are left to grow up without one of their parents - and sometimes both. The Ministry of Youth has embarked on a program to help steer kids from five schools down the right path despite the lack of parent figures. Today at the graduation ceremony, the minister told us more.
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports & Transport
"It was a program that went on for several weeks and the target was children who lost a family member especially a mom or dad especially to gang violence. We are trying to give them some courage and some enlightenment to persevere because once someone died, that's it, there's no return so they have to live with that situation and be able to hope and persevere in this life. So we are telling them that education is the key to success and the government is making is much easier for them to go to high school, encourage all of them, make sure that they stay safe, study, and get their further education."
"The workshop was very intense and it tried to relieve them of the pressure that they're under because a young child, six or seven years old, loses a father, and it might be a father figure in the house, how will that child cope with it throughout his life? We are hopeful that what was taught them will help them to come out of it and persevere and make something of themselves."
Ferguson is hoping to continue the program with five more schools.
