The Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) has launched Child Justice Guidelines Posters, which are designed to better equip justice sector stakeholders to deal with children coming in contact with the justice system. They were unveiled during the opening ceremony for the OCA’s ‘Child Justice Guidelines Training Seminar’ for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Justices of the...

The Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) and Collaborate to Educate our Sons recently pulled around 100 vulnerable boys from high schools across the island and boarded them at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St. Andrew for three days of mentoring under the Boys Education Empowerment Programme. The mentorship sessions took place between September 18 and 20. It was endorsed by the...

United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) has raised $7.5 million towards the rebuilding of the Jamaica National Children’s Home, sections of which were destroyed by fire in early August. The organisation launched the Jamaica National Children's Home Restoration Fund in the aftermath of the fire, with the goal of raising $10 million by the end of September. UWJ Chairperson, Dr. Marcia...

Thirty high school and tertiary-level students from across the island who are in need have benefited from scholarships valued at $2 million. This was facilitated through the Save our Boys and Girls Foundation, of which wife of the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, is a patron. It was done in collaboration with the Juliet Holness Foundation. Mrs. Holness,...

Ten wards of the State, who are pursuing tertiary-level education, have been awarded scholarships in the amount of US$40,000 by Children of Jamaica Outreach Inc. (COJO), a New York-based Jamaican charity. The awardees were nominated by Children’s Officers from various children’s homes, based on academic performance. They are pursuing studies in the field of education, law, nursing, psychology, architecture, and...

Some 52 high schools are now participating in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s Twinning of Schools initiative. The programme aims to expose students to academic and extracurricular programmes that are not currently available at their own schools. It will also give teachers and student leaders an opportunity to share ideas and best practices with their colleagues in other...

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), through its parenting workshops, is empowering parents in western Jamaica to build stronger bonds with their children. Director for Alternative Care Services at the CPFSA, Eunice Scott-Shaw, told JIS News that the workshops aim to provide parents with critical child-rearing skills. Among the objectives are to instil a greater sense of care...