Dancehall artiste Sheldon Lawrence, better known as Aidonia, launched a new initiative geared towards educating youth and providing support for the disenfranchised.

Last Friday morning, the deejay and members of his JOP camp invaded Maxfield Park Primary School on Langard Avenue in Kingston for the launch of the new One Voice Foundation and Sheldon Lawrence Scholarship programme. Forming one of several nodes of the Foundation, the Scholarship is geared towards assisting students of the school with their educational challenges as they transition into high school.

Worth almost J$300,000, the scholarship focuses on five students at the Grade Six level. The top student who exemplifies good behaviour and attitude and maintains the highest grades and overall progress and passes the GSAT Examinations will receive an annual grant of $200,000 for high school. The remaining four will each receive a $20,000 book voucher annually to offset high-school expenses.

Working in tandem with Aidonia's mother, also a teacher at the school, Principal Annette McDonald lauded the entertainer for his efforts while encouraging others to emulate his path.

Aidonia reiterated his commitment to the development of our next generation of leaders.

"I am just here to help and encourage the youths to know that whatever they aspire to be in life, they can attain that as long as you remain positively focused on your goals. Sometime, to achieve these goals, they need help, and that is where someone like me comes in, not just to give them verbal mentoring, but also help financially, whenever possible. You have to bend the tree from it's young if you want it to grow a certain way."

Though still in its infancy, Aidonia says the One Voice Foundation will be embarking on a number of other community-based projects in the months ahead with future plans to take the initiative islandwide.

Meanwhile, afoot is his upcoming tour of Europe, the Don Deh Yah singer is slated to release a pair of videos for Ryder and Love Off Yuh Gyal.