Gov’t pursues partnership to prevent violence in communities
Published:Saturday | February 26, 2022 | 12:08 AM
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of National Security have forged a US$7-million partnership, aimed at preventing violence in vulnerable schools and communities.
Some 16,000 students and 10,000 parents will be directly impacted by the programme, which is expected to positively influence several communities.
With improved social, behavioural and academic outcomes, it is expected that risk-prone and violent behaviour will be reduced in a sustainable manner.
In his remarks, chargé d’affaires, United States Embassy in Kingston, John McIntyre, said it is the USAID’s first government-to-government agreement with the security ministry.
He explained that the USAID is committed to strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities and by extension, enhancing citizen security.
With citizen security being a cross-cutting issue in Jamaica, he said the education and justice ministries will also play a key role in the implementation of the project.
“Targeted interventions will include providing opportunities for music, sports and technology programmes to be implemented in schools and communities, enhanced case management and social services for at-risk youth, deepening of child diversion and restorative justice programmes and an expansion of the safe schools programme,” McIntyre explained.
At yesterday’s signing ceremony, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang said the programme reflects the new direction of social intervention programmes in Jamaica.
“It is not a critique of former activities because they were well-intentioned and many were, in fact, applied with significant energy, but we did not get the results that we wanted. While we have no guarantees, we learn from past experiences and take new directions,” Chang said, adding that Jamaica still has one of the highest levels of violence globally.
Chang, who is also deputy prime minister, said schools are an excellent entry point for fixing issues entrenched in communities.
“Where we now have to focus is to ensure that we provide the human development. The essence of the security plan is to coordinate the agencies of government to deliver to the at-risk population the services that will improve their lives by restoring their dignity, giving them hope and allowing them to achieve some success in life,” Chang said.