Caribbean News
JAMAICA: CSJP Supports new programme to assist At-Risk Youth
Jamaica, April 23, 2018 – Kingston – The Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III has thrown its support behind an innovative new programme being piloted in the August Town community in St. Andrew that focuses on using sporting tools and techniques to mentor at-risk youth. The initiative, dubbed project GOLD (Guidance, Opportunities and Lessons for Development), kicked off on Saturday, April 7. It uses sports for development methodology and techniques from cricket, football, netball and track and field to engage a selection of youth from the community.
In addition to financial support, which covers training material, stationery, gears and promotional items to be used in the workshops, the CSJP III is also providing its expertise in a number of critical areas to Project GOLD. This includes guidance through its community case management team, social marketing team, psychological services unit, and its monitoring and evaluation team, which will provide support in assessing the impact of the pilot and determine how it can be improved for a full roll-out in other communities.
Communications and Social Marketing Coordinator with CSJP III, Patrice Nephew, addressing Project GOLD’s recent launch ceremony, hailed the initiative as well-needed and gave kudos to the athletes who have “committed to going the extra mile” in supporting the programme.
“Project GOLD is in line with the CSJP mandate and will contribute positively to the resocialisation of at-risk youth. We also see where it is an opportunity to build community governance,” Mrs. Nephew said.
She noted that CSJP III has administered similar programmes, such as its Goals for Life initiative, which she said has been successful in breaking down social barriers in vulnerable communities.
“So, we know that sport is a real tool that [empowers] persons and gives opportunities…. We are optimistic that Project GOLD will have a positive bearing on the values and attitudes of the project beneficiaries [as well],” she added.
Project GOLD is the brainchild of former national netball captain, Simone Forbes, who has collaborated with track and field star, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; cricketer, Chris Gayle; and former national football player, Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, to implement the project.
Project GOLD will help participants, who are between 11 and 17 years, to set goals and learn how to commit to them. It will also provide family life and parenting skills, and entrepreneurship training for at least 15 parents and caregivers of the participants.
Mrs. Nephew said CSJP III is looking to have further collaboration with the athletes to engage youngsters in other CSJP programmes, particularly those aimed at honing life skills.
The CSJP III is a multifaceted crime and violence prevention initiative of the Ministry of National Security, which focuses on building community safety and security. The programme provides crime and violence prevention services to 50 vulnerable and volatile communities, spanning eight parishes.
The programme is funded by the Government of Jamaica, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada (DFATD); and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (DFID).
Release: JIS
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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