YMCA struggles to stay open

As the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) closes its doors for the Christmas season, its general secretary, Sarah Newland-Martin, will be racking her brain on how to keep the organisation open for the long term.

"It has been tough going financially," she said simply.

Newland-Martin noted it costs about $1.2 million to run the organisation for a month, and the light bill alone can be $300,000.

"Some months we don't even raise $100,000. And every time the water, the light and the telephone go up, it's a tremendous problem," she said. "And I can't send the 130 boys who live there back on the street; Jamaica would be in serious problems."

She said the YMCA only gets money from programmes it runs and that it has been trying not to raise its fees too much, as some already can't pay. Newland-Martin feels the organisation deserves the help.

"I feel honestly that we're doing a lot to save this country through the work that we are doing with young people," she said. Newland-Martin is hoping those who have benefited from the YMCA would help spread the word for persons to help. She said all over the world, she runs into people who either worked or benefited from the organisation. But she is hopeful for the best, noting there have been and continue to be successes.

"When you see the transition from where a child is coming from, it makes you feel that all is not lost."