Sheena Gayle, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

In the early 2000s, a group of people from the quiet, rural community of Martha Brae, Trelawny became concerned about the level of illiteracy in the district.

They recognised that something had to be done and quickly too. So, the Youth Express YES Club was established in 2001.

Since then, its membership has grown steadily, numbering more than 30 today.

Club President Prudence Rose-Strachan was charged with the responsibility of leading the organisation.

"We had to intervene in order to give these children a fair shot at getting an education," she told The Gleaner. "We realised that some of the children in the community were not going to school, and some of them lacked the basic needs such as funds or even a pair of shoes."

Nominated for Michael Manley Award

The Youth Express Yes Club is one of seven centres nominated for the Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.

The club currently operates from the Zion Seventh-day Adventist Church; however, Rose-Strachan said an alternative permanent structure would be completed by late September.

The president said the resilient Zion community has always supported the fund-raising activities of the cash-strapped club.

According to Rose-Strachan, community support of initiatives like the Youth Express YES Club is critical to help to steer young people from crime and violence.

"Our vision is to extend our programmes to offer courses in information technology to both youths and adults," she said.

"We want all the youths within Martha Brae to be educated and if we can lend a hand to accomplish that, then we would be satisfied."