The University of the West Indies Mona this morning, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 hosted a welcome ceremony and press conference for the prevention 20+ programme. PIP20+ aims to reduce the recruitment of minors by illegal armed groups through the development of projects that improve the quality of life of children and adolescents in 20 particularly vulnerable municipalities in Colombia.

This is an initiative by the Colombian Government as a part of a wider strategy for cooperation with the Caribbean Basin and is designed to promote social and economic development in the region through capacity building, exchange and experiences. The projects aim to provide opportunities for character building and adoption of values utilizing the medium of sports.

In his address to the Colombians the Director of Sports, UWI Mona, Mr. Dalton Myers implored the athletes to learn from the experience and to pass on to others in Colombia who might able to learn help others from what they themselves were taught in this life changing experience. He hastened to mention that "the UWI is in this (P20+) initiative) to build sports in Jamaica."

The group of fifteen- ten track and field athletes and five coaches will be in the island from March 28- 30, 2011. Their visit will see them having training sessions with the UWI track and field team, they will be witnessing firsthand the 101 staging of Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium among other activities.