ROTARY CLUBS from across the nation have collaborated in an effort to highlight positive youth leadership within communities islandwide.

The Rotary Youth Initiative, which was launched last Thursday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston, is a four-pronged project aimed at recognising the positive deeds of young leaders who have, up until now, worked out of the public eye.

"Positive leadership is not usually seen or awarded within our society," said André Hylton, the programme's coordinator. "We need to highlight positive young leaders in the community so as to encourage more people to do the right thing and not the popular thing."

The programme will jump into action with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, which seeks to recognise 500 young people, between the ages of 14 and 30, who have displayed positive leadership qualities.

While nominees are being taken from outside of the organisation, each Rotary club will identify a young person with whom to present the award. "We are looking for the unsung heroes, youth not yet recognised for their efforts," said Hylton.

Training

Awardees will also be invited to participate in a youth leadership seminar next May, during which they will receive training from successful leaders with special emphasis on the importance of ethics, communication skills and community service, as well as have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and increase their self-confidence.

The initiative will continue with programmes such as Lunch with a Leader and Early Act, which will target youngsters between the ages of five and 13, and Leader Act, which will encourage positive persons within communities (with particular interest in volatile areas) to form a Rotary-sponsored core from which to base outreach activities.

"I believe that this could have a positive impact on the youth of Jamaica," said Hylton. "We are hoping that this will become an ongoing effort."