Deejay Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi the Teacha is making an appeal to corporate bodies and government entitities to form a coalition of sorts to make an appeal to the troubled youths of inner city communities to shun violence and embrace real opportunities.

kartel.jpgThe deejay has already made the first step, formulating his own public service announcement denouncing violence. . He has personally bankrolled a series of public service announcements which have aired almost exclusively on ZIP FM, and on the Internet.

"We have to make an effort to reach the disenfranchised youths in Jamaica, to make them understand that crime and violence is not the answer, life is more than just guns and badness...there are many opportunities out there and other ways for them to exist and express themselveswe need to show them that," he said.

He said that he is open to any suggestions to broaden the scope of the anti-violence appeal involving other local stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health which had its own series of violence prevention activities last year. Jaevion Nelson, the Partnerships & Marketing Coordinator for the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Netowrk, has already used the PSA as part his presentation at a Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) workshop on Healthy Lifestyle.

"The workshop looked at several aspects of adolescent life and how we can build and developed ourselves as young people," Mr. Nelson said. "I had heard it on the radio several Sundays ago - and thought it is a great effort that must be lauded, supported and sustained."

Jamaica's murder tally soared past the 700 mark over the weekend when the *lo**bath continued with a 16-year-old girl among 15 persons killed. The island on course for another record year of *lo**letting, and in defiance of renewed outrage against the spiralling crime rate. The police reported 34 murders and six police homicides in the first nine days of June, based on data supplied by the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN).

The deejay has been turning his attention to projects such as the promotion of his Vybz Rum liquor which has been doing well. He recently donated a computer to the Queen's High school and he plans to donate a computer to the Waterford Primary school as well as that school moves to set up a computer lab for its students.

"This move is just a continuance of the Adidja Palmer Education Foundation initiative to keep the primary schools computer literate. At this stage of their development, their minds are most impressionable and as such, what they grasp now as toddlers will greatly affect the man or woman they will become 20 years from now," he said.

"Waterford Primary has been a recipient of the Teacha's philanthropy in the past and we are just continuing the trend."

The deejay has also decided to make himself available to help raise funds for the Waterford Primary school to outfit its computer lab with up-to-date facilities. The principal of the school, Mr. Walker, when contacted, said that he welcomed any positive contribution from Vybz Kartel towards the school's facilities.