OCR Sets new Deadline for Competitions

Children between the ages of 10 and 17 are being encouraged to submit entries for two competitions organised by the Office of the Children's Registry (OCR).

The new deadline for the Jingle Competition and the Child Ambassadors Programme has been extended to September 28, 2012. Both programmes are aimed at getting children more involved in the fight against child abuse.

Public Education Specialist, OCR, Trevesa Ashman, told JIS News that the date has been extended due to the interest from the public and to allow more time for children to participate in the programmes.

"This will allow more persons time to do the programme and the competition as well as those who may not have had any help outside of the school system. This will allow them to get assistance from their teachers when they go back to school in September,” she said, adding that it will also give the OCR extra time to promote the information in different groups.

Giving details of the jingle competition, Mrs. Ashman said it must be 30 seconds, with a message about child abuse. It should also encourage persons to report child abuse by calling the OCR’s toll free number 1-888-PROTECT (1-888-776-8328). Additionally, she said, the words of the jingle, along with a completed entry form, must be submitted to the OCR. The song should be submitted in MP3 format on a CD or sent by email to: jingle@ocr.gov.jm.

“Of course, entries with lewd lyrics will be disqualified and we encourage the entries to be as creative and original as possible. It should be relevant to the message that we want to get across, it should be clear and it should be appealing," she emphasised, stating that the song will be integrated in OCR’s public education campaigns.

Prizes for the winner of the competition will include a weekend for four at an all-inclusive resort, book vouchers and a Blackberry phone. She said the OCR is also considering a runner-up prize based on the quality and number of entries submitted.

“We have several other prizes that we do not wish to mention at this time, since we are still confirming with the sponsors,” Mrs. Ashman said.

The Child Ambassadors Programme is an initiative where children will be invited to serve for a minimum of one year as volunteer ambassadors for the OCR and help to promote the reporting of child abuse.

Mrs. Ashman said that child ambassadors will be asked to make presentations and representations on behalf of the OCR, as well as participate in media interviews and advertisements, as part of the OCR's public education and planning activities.

"They should possess excellent oral and communication skills, because they will be required to represent the OCR. They should be able to speak and write comfortably and should be able to commit at least one year of volunteering with the OCR, with the aim of helping to create awareness about child abuse and reporting child abuse," she said.

She explained that the aim is to get six child ambassadors across the island in each region of the Ministry of Education. “This child ambassador will be responsible for the different public education activities within their regions,” she added.

Information on the two programmes is available at www.ocr.gov.jm or on the OCR's Facebook page (Children's.Registry) and Twitter account (@OCRJA). Persons may also call the OCR at 908-1690, 619-0723 or 631-4566.