Despite the violence, lack of funds, disagreements and other challenges faced by participants in vocational training courses pro-vided by the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP), more than 400 students held fast and on Wednesday reaped the fruits of their labour as they proudly graduated.

Their achievement was unher-alded, as their number outdid the 250 who completed the courses last year at the Operation Friendship facility on East Bell Road in Kingston. The Corporate Area inner city youth lamented their circumstances and told of the sacrifices they made to complete the new phase in their lives.

"Living in communities such as ours is not easy. Many of us have lost friends and family members to violence and we are often labelled as 'good for nutten' and at times written off before we are given a chance," read valedictorian Narado Bell, who copped three awards during the ceremony.

"But today I feel a great sense of accomplishment as for the first time I see more males than females at a graduation ceremony," he continued, referring to the fact that more than 90 per cent of the graduates were men.

Decked in black and white, his classmates cheered him on, many grinning from ear to ear while showing support. When another colleague, Mark Miller, took the stage, it was obvious they shared a bond despite their different backgrounds.

Lack of funds

Miller, who said his mother was killed when he was five years old and that his father was an absentee, described himself as an orphan. He said he applied to Portmore Academy but lack of funds prevented him from doing the test.

He later applied to the CSJP and was placed at Operation Friend-ship, which was in walking distance. But even better, he received a stipend and higher qualification.

"My training in the skill area of welding has made me a better welder," he said. "I am now certified and, other than having a talent, I am now blessed with a skill. Thanks be to God."

The graduates have successfully completed training at levels one and two in electrical installation, plumbing, welding, food prepara-tion and general construction. Additionally, students were taught life skills as well as basic computer and entrepreneurial skills. A reading programme was offered for those who cannot read.

Orville Simmonds, action project coordinator of CSJP, implored the graduates to stay positive, practise the life skills they have learnt and refrain from aggressive, abusive activities.

"Things might be tight in more ways than one, do not give up, and do not resort to some of the things that you might have been involved in earlier on," he said beseechingly.