Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Andrew Zupsic (left), vice-president of sales, marketing and services at Microsoft Latin America, presents a cheque worth US$50,000 (J$3.55 million) to Claudette Pious, executive director of Children First yesterday during a press briefing at Microsoft Jamaica, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Teenagers living in the violence-plagued communities of Spanish Town, St Catherine, who say they have been disappointed by the system, are being given a second chance to transform their lives through the use of information technology.

Through the work of the non-profit organisation, Children First, and one of the world's leaders in technology, Microsoft, these inner-city youths - many of whom said they were either expelled from school or were voluntary dropouts - are now fast on their way to becoming equipped with the skills necessary to survive in what is now known as the Information Age.

'Encouraging' results

The Microsoft Unlimited Potential Project, which started in September 2005, has so far assisted more than 600 inner-city youths. At present there are 97 students enrolled at the agency's Monk Street office in St Catherine.

According to Claudette Pious, executive director of Children First, at least 85 per cent of the programme's participants have either moved on to accessing jobs, returned to school or have started their own small businesses.

"The results have been very encouraging," she told The Gleaner.

Source of upliftment

Pious, who received a cheque valuing US$50,000 (J$3.55 million) from Microsoft, said the programme has been a source of upliftment for many of the youths enrolled.

Andrew Zupsic, vice-president of sales, marketing and service at Microsoft Latin America, said: "We believe that people are the world's most important resources and preach that internally, as well as externally at Microsoft."

Zupsic said the aim was therefore to use technology to touch the lives of individuals who are in need, in the hope of making a positive change in the world.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com