The Editor, Sir:

I am saddened by the dilemma facing our poor children. It is a daunting experience trying to get employment without a college degree or diploma. However, how will these children be able to sustain themselves while attending college and paying tuition at the same time?

There has to be more assistance from both the Government and private sector in these situations. Scholarships are out of the question as some of these children would not qualify, as perhaps their environment and lack of support may have prevented them from realising their full potential in school.

Corporate support

This is why we need more companies not only to support internship programmes from a college level but from a high school level as well.

There are countries, such as Canada, that have a structured work experience programme, for high school seniors, which would be equivalent to fifth form in Jamaica.

The vicious cycle has to be broken as the lack of opportunities leads to greater poverty and widespread criminal activity. These are not expensive plans, it merely will require some brave visionaries to take a chance.

I am heartened by the fact that many of our brilliant Olympians are all from humble backgrounds, who lived under some conditions foreign to many of us. Let us celebrate them by creating future achievers like themselves. Let us not let a Usain Bolt-calibre child slip through our fingers because we were not brave enough to give him a chance.

I am, etc.,

VICTORIA HARTMAN

victory.hartman@gmail.com