NGO Engages Youths in Punta Gorda
YADLIT, pronounced, YAAD LIT, is a community based organization out of Punta Gorda focused on agriculture and community development. The founders of the organization uses their agriculture-based business to invest in education, sports and youth development. Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Youth Association Developing Livelihood, YADLIT, was founded in Punta Gorda Toledo, by Jaleel Lino and a couple of friends.
Jaleel Lino, YADLIT
Jaleel Lino
“It is spelled as YADLIT but it is actually pronounced as Yaad Light, because the meaning behind is when times are dark the first thing they tell us to put on is your yard light. So, we want to flash the light on the people from here, so that the world or country can see their potential, their talent, to showcase what we have here down south.”
YADLIT is a registered NGO. Currently, their projects focus primarily on agriculture. The organization has a farm named YADLIT Farm where they breed pigs for butchering and packaging to sell to their community.
Jaleel Lino
“My thing is, you know how they say down south? Down south means like below us, beneath us, like yeah you the down deh. And my think is that we have been treating like second class citizens, let’s be honest, for a while when it comes to the rest of the country. When you hear everything the happen in the country, you hear anybody want come dah PG? Everybody out district, you always hear, PG to far, nothing deh dah PG fih do, alright hey. That might be true, but people who are from PG, I think we are built different.”
YADLIT is seeking to change that narrative by exposing the rest of the country to home grown products out of Punta Gorda. Additionally, YADLIT invests its proceeds back into its community, through youth engagement, community empowerment and social networking.
Jaleel Lino
“It is not only agriculture, we have a sporting department. We have a media department and we have an education Department. Let’s go quickly to the education department, we have three kids right now in high school on scholarships. We did some computer essential programs whereby we are teaching our community, people who signed up to our programs online about the basic of Microsoft word, excel, how to check your emails, the simple things, because since COVID happened we were expecting things to go more virtual, and they have to know the basic of a computer. So, we did those courses as well. When it comes to sports, currently we assist both gyms, Pain to Fitness and Athletic Sides, we work with them in regards to the marathons they are doing, with regards to how they assist us as well. Because, before the end of the year we are throwing two volleyball tournament.”
The organization also has a media arm that it uses to expose its community to farming and cooking techniques on national tv. According to Jaleel, the youth based organization’s main objective is to change the culture of Punta Gorda towards a self sustainable future, by engaging its youths.
Jaleel Lino
“For all the youths out there, I know it is hard at this time when you are trying to be productive, because there is a lot of tome on your hands, a lot of time to waste, but at the end of the day try your best. At least try to be productive, because somebody could be looking up to you and you don’t know.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
