A US$1,388,000.00 project, to improve the lives of up to 400 children in State care was launched on October 30, at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters, Mona, in Kingston Jamaica.
This project is being implemented by The UWI Open Campus’ Caribbean Child Development Centre (CCDC) in collaboration with the Child Development Agency (CDA) as part of theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID) Development Grants Programme.
The grant agreement was signed by representatives from The UWI Open Campus and the USAID on August 27.
The Transitional Living Programme for Children in State Care project will seek to provide services to improve preparation for the transition to independent living for children leaving residential care. This will be accomplished through the development of an exit-readiness programme of life skills, job skills training and mentorship. The project seeks to address issues of employability, lifestyle choices/health, family and the environment, and to secure public-private partnership for employment opportunities. It will also create a safe and appropriate transitional living facility for 40 girls on leaving State care in Jamaica.
This project will represent a milestone in improving the state of children in State care, as each year some 700 adolescents are discharged from Jamaica’s child protection system on reaching 18 years. Many do not experience successful transition into adulthood and therefore cannot make an optimal contribution to national development.
