Incensed by the gang violence plaguing inner city communities and
the rash of sexual violence against young women and minors in the
society, Rastafarian firebrand Lutan Fyah has started a Youth Upliftment
Foundation (YUF) which he hopes can socially re-engineer the negative
attitudes and behaviours of young at-risk children.
READ FULL ARTICLE
He is not daunted by the mammoth task ahead, especially since the
twin tigers of crippling poverty and bloody gangs have already spawned a
nation of broken children who see violence as a way of life, and who
often grow up to repeat the terrible cycle started by their parents.
"Why curse the darkness when you can light a candle," Lutan Fyah, who is known for the hits St Jago De La Vega and Save The Juveniles, said.
The entity is registered as a non-profit organisation charged with
empowering the well-being of youth through social intervention dedicated
to contribute to the family, communities and nation through continued
growth and development.
"I want to provide enrichment opportunities through 'edutaiment'. We
have to encourage youth development of talents and skills building so
as to eliminate risky behaviours among youths, whilst helping them to
develop their full potential. Too many of our talented youngsters are
lost to gangs, or make poor life choices that haunt them for the rest of
their lives," Lutan Fyah said.
Specifically, he wants to use the Save the Juveniles outreach and
mentoring arm of the organisation to re-engineer the mindset and
thinking of young at-risk children who are often the perpetrators and
victims of violent gun crime.
"We have to educate youths to think constructively and creatively,
whilst promoting positive social interaction to bring about change in
attitudes and behaviours among self and others. I want to engage other
like-minded members of society to join with me to become proactive
mentors to inspire and spiritually uplift these children," he said.
Other objectives of the organisation include: The promotion
spiritual upliftment in an effort to preserve cultural identity, sense
of self, individualism and personal development; assisting youths to
identify their weaknesses and identify their full potential and see
themselves as nation builders; providing a framework that is aimed at
combating some of the social issues and reshaping some of the dramatic
forces inflicted upon youths on a regular basis.
Also, he hopes YUF will help to maintain social solidarity and
solution-oriented support among youths in communities and schools, and
create a framework to advocate for the effective delivery of voluntary
services to youths at the highest professional level in a legal and
ethical manner.
"At the moment, I am chairman, president, vice president, general
secretary and a financial controller. I am going to need a body of
people to help me meet with these objectives," he said.