Videos Launched to Increase Awareness of Child Care Act

The Child Development Agency (CDA) and Hope for Children Development Company Limited (HCDC) have launched two videos: ‘Man a Yaad.Lawd’ and ‘Talk Done, Time fi Action’, which are aimed at increasing public awareness about the Child Care and Protection Act 2004.
Speaking at the launch, which was held at Pollyanna Caterers in Kingston yesterday (May 22), Chief Executive Officer of the CDA, Alison Anderson, explained that “the two videos will assist in bringing about heightened awareness among children, families, individuals and communities, about the Child Care and Protection Act 2004.”
“The videos are two phenomenal productions, featuring talented Jamaican children on a mission to ensure that every person in this country knows what their responsibilities are towards children and the penalties for failing to live up to these expectations,” she further maintained.
According to the CDA head, while the Child Care and Protection Act identifies the family as the primary source for the care and protection of children, “it also embraces a very important community approach to raising children and protecting them.”
“Too many times, the home itself is a battleground for children and then the community turns a blind eye to what is taking place,” she pointed out.
Citing a recent United Nations’ study on violence against children, Miss Anderson noted that “by far, the most violence experienced by children occurs within the family household and is meted out by close acquaintances.” This, she said, “is cause for concern and as individuals and a society, we need to examine our approach to children.”
Commenting on the rationale for producing the videos, Miss Anderson explained that “the CDA and the HCDC fully appreciate the prominent role that audio visual media play in educating, informing and shaping perception and behaviors, and it is against this background that we acted.”
Continuing, she noted, “we thought that it was very timely and indeed very relevant to create these two video productions so that we can get to the heart of our people and demonstrate to our children that we wish to regain their trust, and rebuild the protective environment that should exist in their homes and in their communities.”
“In our public education drive, there is no room for exclusivity and we encourage every single person who can, to come on board, because we really see this as an opportunity to promote frank, open discussions about the issues that affect our children and how each of us can make a difference,” she further noted.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of HCDC, Richard Troupe said that his organization also believes that these productions will be very important educational tools, which can be utilize by various organisations and groups such as schools, churches and community-based organisations.
“We believe that passing legislation is important but cannot be the end of the process. If Jamaicans are not sensitized to the key provisions of the Child Care and Protection Act, then we would have defeated the purpose,” he said.
‘Man a Yaad.Lawd’ tells the story about two sisters, their abusive father and uncaring mother, and the persistent teacher, who gives them hope. It is a production of the CDA and the cast consists of past and present students of Lucea Primary School in Westmoreland.
The other video, ‘Talk Done, Time fi Action’ is written and produced by the HCDC in association with Phase 3 Production and is funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica. Casting for the production is drawn from four inner city communities in Kingston.