Community safety and capacity building initiative gets $60 million boost

KINGSTON — The Capacity Building and Training for Communities component of the Poverty Reduction Programme II has received additional support with an allotment of $60 million in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure.

The programme, which began in October, 2010, seeks to improve the socio-economic conditions and quality of life in communities, with emphasis on the promotion of community safety and the reduction of criminal behaviour in volatile and vulnerable communities.

Up to December, 2010 under the initiative 238 persons have benefited from community-based training; 53 persons have received vocational skills training; and 13 parents were training in parenting skills.

In addition, 26 persons benefited from an internship programme, with five persons receiving job placements.  Over 400 persons also received assistance through summer camps; while 114 persons received assistance through scholarships.

Also 20 persons were given psychological assessments and 73 persons provided with community violence prevention services.

It is expected that for the 2011 to 2012 period, the programme will provide 14 persons with training in parenting skills for community-capacity building. It will also target 260 persons for community-based training as part of youth development. Additionally, 65 persons are to receive vocational skills training.

Other targets for the period are: to facilitate summer camps; conduct physiological assessments of 65 persons; engage 260 participants in violence education exercises; and involve 30 persons in an employment internship programme.

The programme, which is being implemented by the Ministry of National Security through funding from the European Union, is slated to end in June, 2012.

By ALECIA SMITH, JIS Reporter