MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Coordinator of the central Jamaica youth leadership breakfast initiative communications consultant Thelma Bartley says she is fully satisfied with the 10th staging in early April.

“I am thoroughly convinced that the message was received and in the long run we will begin to see the changes,” Bartley told the Jamaica Observer Central in reference to the event held at the Golf View Hotel.

She said close to 500 young people and their leaders returned to their communities and schools from across Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth with “a commitment towards ensuring that they become active players in crafting their own achievements”.

A number of prominent high schools from the south central region participated.

The central Jamaica Youth Leadership Breakfast was started in 2000 to “facilitate and foster” leadership skills in young people.

Bartley, of Thelkar Communications Ltd, says the breakfast initiative was largely inspired by the values and Attitudes programme launched by former prime minister PJ Patterson in that same year.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting, patron of the event, was among the main speakers taking the opportunity to again promote his Unite for Change campaign aimed at encouraging Jamaicans to break the cycle of crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Violence is a public health crisis,” Bunting told his audience, insisting that Jamaicans needed to respond accordingly.

Rev Oliver Daley of Ridgemount United Church and Mikael Phillips member of Parliament for north west Manchester were among several speakers bringing inspirational messages for young people.

The function carried the themes Restoring Morals: Building Integrity and Fixing Attitude: Expanding Boundaries.