Wesrok Plans Gospel Concert To Raise Funds For Downtown Youth Development Foundation

 

Country reggae artist Wesrok is seeking to raise funds in support of his Downtown Youth Development Foundation. He believes that there needs to be a greater push towards social programmes to keep young people out of gangs.

To this end, he is organizing a gospel concert and cultural extravaganza in the month of October to raise $2 million to provide core funding to push educational and academic assistance programmes targeting at-risk youths in the Riverton communities and its environs. He will be enlisting gospel acts, rallying them to what he believes is a worthwhile cause.

“Most of these youths have been neglected by the social system and as such make these youths vulnerable to crime and violence. As a result of this social and political neglect, these communities are among the vilest in Jamaica. But I believe we can make a change,” Wesrok, whose real name is Percival Buddan, said.

Through his Downtown Youth Development Foundation founded by him over 15 years ago,Wesrok has decided to revamp the organisation and relocate its headquarters to Six Miles, Kingston.

“This is a significant investment in a dream to help disadvantaged youths. We now have a home and headquarters, a physical manifestation of my overall dream. My main goal is to seek out at-risk youths and to provide spiritual, economic and physical support for them under the new theme Love Lifted Me,” he said.

The concert will be used as a catalyst to simultaneously christen the new headquarters and spark the philanthropic mission.

Wesrok, who has carved out a reputation for his unique brand of country-reggae, believes that music can transform lives.

“That is why I do music with a message, and what better way to drive home the message than with a powerful gospel concert,” he said.

Currently he is working with the Tivoli Gardens Restoration Project and is providing assistance to various families in meeting their daily financial needs, especially as it relates to educational support for children.

Wesrok travelled to Chicago, USA over the weekend to forge deeper relationships with overseas partners to help fund his foundation. He issued a public call on the support of the business community and deep-pocketed individuals to tap into their altruistic spirit and pledge to help the nation’s disadvantaged children.

“I cannot do it by myself, I need like-minded patriotic people who want to help Jamaica be the paradise I know it can be,” he said. “Together we all can make a difference.”

Wesrok hails from the rural district of Swamp Lane in Bog Walk, St Catherine. He has released a number of country-reggae songs such as Left Out in the Dark, Poor Country Boy, and Born As a Winner. His most popular song to date is Try to Hold Me featuring Masicka which has racked up over 116,000 views on Youtube.