More men needed as mentors – Charles

A call is being made for more men to be mentors for at-risk male adolescents in Jamaica.

The mentors are required for an upcoming mentorship programme, #Mentorme2020, an initiative of the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA), a division of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

Speaking at this year’s International Men’s Day church service at Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston on Sunday, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Pearnel Charles Jr, said the programme will focus on adolescent males who are at risk of not contributing towards the Vision 2030 National Development Plan.

“We will assign mentors to each participant and track their progress over a specific period, as well as promote a robust and sustained social protection strategy,” he said.

Charles Jr, who represented Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, implored men who are positively contributing to society to take the time to mentor more young men.

The senator said that the BGA’s Special Service Desk for men provides sensitisation and awareness-raising on a range of issues that affect men and boys.

Additionally, he said it serves to forge partnerships with men’s groups and other key stakeholders “to help address the challenges which confront men and boys to foster positive masculinity”.

“Support has been provided to situate men in the gender discourse locally, as well as support the involvement of men to eliminate gender-based violence,” he said.