Member of parliament for Eastern St Andrew, André Hilton, has hailed the positive impact the University of Technology's (UTech) 2013 summer programme, 'Teach the Youth', has had on its young participants.

The students were from the surrounding communities of Kintyre, Highlight View, Tavern, August Town and Sandy Park.

Hilton, addressing the closing ceremony of the programme, held under the theme, 'Creating a Positive Impact Today for the Youth of Tomorrow' at UTech's St Andrew campus recently, noted that it embodies the kind of action and spirit to move Jamaica forward to being the place of choice "to live, do business, raise families, and I dare say retire".

The member of parliament has been a part of the 14-year tradition of the summer programme and congratulated the UTech Student's Union and members of the Guild for spearheading the event.

He also pledged his continued support and also commended the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) and other sponsors who participated in the programme.

"We have always seen them (JIS) on TV and at some functions, recording what is happening, but it is good tosee that you have played an integral part in this effort from beginning to end. It encourages the students and we love that. I think that is fantastic," Hilton said.

In the meantime, chief executive officer, JIS, Donna-Marie Rowe, said her agency was happy to have played a pivotal role in the programme.

"We recognise that we at the JIS and those of you in the Students' Union are agents of change, even as you saw this project through to the end. We are very pleased to be here and we're happy that our team helped to ensure the JIS played an active role."

During the course of the programme, several members of the JIS team made presentations to the children.

Based on performance over the duration of the three-week programme, UTech chose the top 10 students from each community - Alyssa Hunter and Ajumu Hunter from Tavern; Givonni Calame and Shaniel Mitchell of August Town; Nasheen Campbell and Kyle Alridge from Highlight View; Joseph Rodney and Aisha Hewitt from Sandy Park; and Daneil Brown and Shavanesse from Kintyre.

Director of community services in the Students' Union Guild, Jerome Graham, was grateful to all those who played a positive role in the programme's success.

"We could not have done this without our sponsors and participants. The success is brimming. I can see it in the faces and smiles, and the hard work we put in is paying off, even as we continue to make a positive impact on the youths of today for the youths of tomorrow," he said.