Today Youth Opportunities Unlimited had a photo op with LIME Jamaica (Landline, Internet, Mobile and Entertainment Services). LIME has recently provided YOU with some funding to aid us in our Christmas card fundraiser. They invited us to attend their tree-lighting ceremony at their headquarters.

We arrived at about 1:20 as we were told the ceremony started at 1:30. We were greeted by a LIME marketing person who told us we would be called in about 2:00. So we hung out in a gazebo and drank juice. There were about 20 YOU youth who have benefitted from our programs. They all wore their YOU t-shirts, tucked in, pulled up their belted pants and hid their flashy jewelry.

Around 2:00, we were rounded up for a photo op with Santa, five elves (young women in rather revealing dresses?!?) and the LIME CEO Gary Sinclair. The media love LIME events, so there were lots of cameras. We all gathered around the Christmas tree as Sinclair lit it up as carols played in the background. Then, one of the marketing people grabbed one of our youth by the wrist (a young girl in her school uniform) and shoved her by the tree for Sinclair to officially present her with a “gift”, which was a LIME backpack with a phone inside! It is obviously very generous of them. Sinclair is a YOU board member.

Then, the entire group of youths were herded under the tree for another photo op with Sinclair, Santa and the elves. I snapped lots of pictures as well. And then it was all over. We were treated to a catered meal of chicken, oxtail, fish, rice and peas and salad. Everybody was clearly pleased with their new phones. And that was it.