Parliamentary representative for Christ Church West, Dr William Duguid donating books to the reading programme through community development officer Petra Chase.

BONNETT'S MAY SOON BE lighting the night once again.

This is one of the major projects being undertaken by the community organisation class of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Leader of this year's group called Champions For Change, Barbara Sargeant, said restarting the lighting project was possible as long as they got behind the youth.

"This is one of the things they said they really wanted to start," she said.

In addition, she said they would be starting a reading programme for those with learning disabilities, a sports programme and a
culture programme.

These projects will be continued by another group, the Bonnett's Empowerment Youth Group, an organisation established within the community by the Champions For Change.

"This was an assignment aimed to get the community to come together. After doing a needs assessment, we realised the youth in
Bonnett's needed an outlet and through the efforts of the Bonnett's Empowerment Youth Group, these programmes will be put into place," said Sargeant.

Sargeant was speaking to the Press on Monday at a termination social at the Bonnett's Resource Centre, Britton's Hill, St Michael, which marked the end of the UWI programme.

However, head of Government, Sociology and Social Work at UWI, Dr Letnie Rock, said her department was willing to continue
offering any assistance the youth group needed, adding some of her students had already pledged to continue helping out.

"I felt proud to see the youth here wanting to make a difference. The university has a role to play in the communities; too often I hear people say we are just there on the hill doing nothing but this is not true, not as far as my department is concerned," she said.

Both Rock and parliamentary representative for Christ Church West, Dr William Duguid, donated books to the reading programme. In his remarks, Duguid said he wanted to see such programmes expanded further.

"All people in the community need is the opportunity to showcase their talent, not just in dance but sports as well," he said.

Duguid said Bonnett's already had a good basketball team and added that the resources were there for a netball and a volleyball team.

He said he wanted other communities such as Pleasant Hall and Clapham to start similar youth programmes. (CA)