The Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew (KCNSA), in collaboration with the Mustard Seed Communities, launched the ‘Sensational Solar Raffle’ on the grounds of the Matthew 25:40 Home at 1B George Headley Drive in Kingston last Thursday (January 26).

The raffle is aimed at raising approximately J$10 million to construct a comfortable living space for the 19 young male resident at the Matthew 25:40 Home, as the existing transition accommodation at the facility does not provide sufficient space or amenities to meet the needs of the young men.

Matthew 25:40, is an extension of the Dare to Care HIV Programme of the Mustard Seed Communities, catering to boys and young men.

The raffle will feature seven first prizes of a 7.5-kilowatt solar powered system, fully installed by JMI Solar anywhere in Jamaica. There will also be seven vendors’ prizes of a 12-volt portable solar generator and 15 parish prizes. Tickets are currently available for $500 each.

Speaking at the event, Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon-Harrison encouraged the young residents to believe in themselves and to step into their purpose.

She stressed the need for self-validation, noting that it is important that young Jamaicans understand the value of not waiting on validation from others.

The Children’s Advocate further urged the group to note the benefits of being industrious, working hard and earning an honest living.

“So, it’s not about the big man dem who do certain things and mek it through life. It is about recognising that wherever on the ladder of life that you find yourself, there is value in being honest and in working hard at whatever it is you’re doing, because by the sweat of your brow you shall eat,” she said.

She continued: “In my own view, if many of our young men and boys understood that. Then perhaps the involvement in gangs, scamming and other forms of criminality would not be as prevalent.”

She further urged the young men, and Jamaicans on the whole, to note the value of integrity.

“Is it that we think that that is something that our leaders are to have, but we have no role to play in creating that kind of society,” she said, noting the word ‘integrity’ is often bandied about without any real grasp of the role we all pay in creating a wholesome society.