After experiencing the challenges and rigours of being incarcerated, Christopher McKenzie is trying to do his part to help youngsters avoid a similar road.

McKenzie is from Commodore district, Linstead, St Catherine and was jailed on six occasions between 1997 and 2006. He was convicted on several charges including robbery, wounding and receiving stolen property.

In 2006, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment on robbery charges, but was released after serving 18 months. After being transferred to the Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre and being immersed in several rehabilitation projects, McKenzie made a decision to turn his life around.

Of his time in prison, he told THE STAR, "It was very difficult. My freedom was taken away, I was taken away from my family and your life is not safe. You meet all kind of people and you don't have to do anything to get hurt."

He told THE STAR, " I realised that putting myself in certain situations is not good for me or the community, so I just tried to rehabilitate myself." McKenzie raised chickens and sold eggs as a part of his rehabilitation and said he tried to encourage others to make use of the opportunity.

McKenzie said he was welcomed back into the community and since then, has been working to improve the lives of the youngsters there. "I met with a lot of youngsters and I reasoned with them and tried to find out what their situation was and let them know that prison is not a place to be."

With help from organisations including the Food For the Poor, McKenzie secured 800 chickens and a few goats, which were distributed among community members. He also secured donations of food items.

Though he is grateful for the help they have received so far, he said there was still much to be done. He said a community centre in the nearby Burton district has been closed for several years and if re-opened, could provide a place for youngsters to engage in productive activities. He also spoke of a training centre which has been in a similar state for years.

He told THE STAR that the intervention was working well, but was being held back in some regards by the residents' inability to afford fertiliser and feeding for their chickens.

He said, "From what I saw in prison, many of the men were there because they didn't have anyone to assist them or represent them. When I look in the community, I see many of the youngsters doing nothing and when you have idle people, you will always have problems."

He added, "The type of company I had is what caused me to go down this path. I'm appealing to young people to be careful of the company they are keeping."

Anyone willing to assist McKenzie in his efforts, may contact him at 787-1445 or contact the Food For the Poor.