Grade-11 Student of St. Catherine High Is President of the CPFSA Children’s Advisory Panel

Seventeen-year-old Afaya Pollack, a grade-11 student at St. Catherine High School, has committed to be the voice of the voiceless.

She was elected President of the fifth cohort of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP), which was installed recently.

“I want violence against children to stop. I want to see children being given the opportunity to be kids and flourish and not have to be worrying about adult activities or being forced to engage in such activities,” Afaya tells JIS News, during a recent interview.

“During my tenure, I along with the other members of CAP will dedicate our time and effort to ensure that the voices of Jamaica’s children are heard at every level of society,” she adds.

More than 20 young people between 12 and 18 years of age have again been given the opportunity to advise/assist the CPFSA’s management team in developing national policies that affect children; programme design and development; review and evaluation of international and national initiatives.

Led by a five-person executive, the members of CAP will, over the next two years, participate in discussions and projects that target children and intercede on their behalf.

Corporate Planner at the CPFSA, Horane Linton, tells JIS News that the main purpose of CAP is to discuss ongoing and emerging issues that affect children and their families at the community and national levels; and provide child-friendly advice to the CPFSA’s executive management team.

CAP is mandated to meet with its members to discuss concerns such as national policies that affect children; planning and budgeting for children, and the design and development of programmes. These they will bring to the attention of the CPFSA for deliberation and action where necessary.

According to Mr. Linton, this kind of construct provides the framework to promote the importance of child participation based on the requirements and provisions that are outlined in the Child Care and Protection Act and the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to be heard in all matters that affect them. Meanwhile, the Child Care and Protection Act underscores that it is in a child’s best interest that their views are taken seriously.

Mr. Linton discloses that CAP has played an integral role in the conceptualisation of the National Children’s Summit, which is hosted by the CPFSA every two years.

During this Summit, forums are held across the island to engage various children’s groups, to include the National Student Council and children within State care, to get their perspective on issues affecting them and to also garner recommendations that would effectively address some of the issues put forward.

“Coming out of these consultation sessions at the Summit, an issue paper is prepared, which is later developed into National Children’s Summit Declaration. This forms part of the CPFSA’s strategic planning to consolidate all the issues and recommendations that have been put forward by the children,” Mr. Linton says.

The Panel also participates in the CPFSA’s quarterly review sessions, makes significant contribution to the setting up of children councils in Children’s Home, sits on committees, such as inter-sectoral, on children and violence and the steering committee for the National Children’s Policy, and participates in corporate and outreach activities.

Two former members of CAP attended the Pan American Child Congress held in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2019.

As part of its belief that consulting with children and incorporating their views into its programmes, plans and polices will create a better society, CAP was established by the CPFSA in July 2012 as one of the means to promote and facilitate child participation in national and international conversations and consultations.

The other members of the fifth cohort of the CAP executive are Deputy Chair, Fade Louther, a student at Wolmer’s High School for Girls; Secretary, Lihanna Lewis, Women’s Centre Foundation; Deputy Secretary, Nasha Patterson, Hampton High; Public Relations Officer, Queen-Mackada Whitfield, Papine High; and Deputy Public Relations Officer, Annalissa Shirley from Wolmer’s High School for Girls.