Music saving wards at St Elizabeth boys home

Since the Child Development Agency (CDA) has built a music room at the Manning Boys Home in St Elizabeth late last year, absconding at the facility has become a thing of the past, according to public relations and communications manager at the CDA, Rochelle Dixon.

"We are proud to say that the boys have actually gone into studio and have recorded their first song," Dixon said. "It shows that if you give young people an opportunity to be a part of something that is good they will hold on to it and do well with it."

Inspiring

Dixon said the facility had a high absconding rate before the music room was built. The song spoke about the impact the CDA's intervention have had on the boys' lives.

"It really warms our hearts to hear them speak about the impact state care has had on them," Dixon said.

According to Dixon, there are two other components which have been inspiring the boys at the home,

"We have a Marching Band that plays at various events in communities and at some of our events too, and, our football team has been playing in the big leagues," Dixon said.

She said these activities have ignited hope in the minds of the boys whose future once seemed dark.

"They may one day become Reggae Boyz, who to tell. The ones who are in the marching band may one day be members of the police band or the Jamaica Defence Force band," Dixon said.