EDITORIAL - Street kids' dilemma

LOCAL HEARTS applauded with great expectation when the Possibility Programme was announced by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in August 2001.

Established under the aegis of the Office of the Prime Minister, the programme was designed to improve the lot of street children and at-risk youth, mostly boys who were visible at Corporate Area traffic lights. The support of various private-sector agencies and non-governmental organisations was enlisted for the programme.

"I want this programme to reflect a caring Jamaica where all children and youths are given the opportunity to maximise their potential and make a meaningful contribution to society," said Mr Patterson then.

But, 12 years later, scores of teenagers are still observed on the nation's streets hustling their way into adulthood. Some estimates say there are more than 7,000 children on the streets trying to eke out an existence. Is it that the burden has become too heavy? Have the agencies that care about children's welfare grown weary? Is it that these boys are not aware of this programme?

Life-changing experience

Undoubtedly, the programme has made an impact on some, including the seven youngsters who are about to participate in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) skills training programme to embark on a new chapter in their lives. The seven spoke eloquently of their life-changing experiences as they became the focus of attention during the country's celebration of Nelson Mandela Day on Thursday.

While the JDF is to be congratulated for participating in the programme, there is the need for many other institutions to become involved in such an initiative. It seems that not nearly enough is being done to address the dilemma of children of the streets and children on the streets. The fact that one day was set aside last month and designated the International Day Against Child Labour had no special resonance among the nation's street children.

But the children's dilemma is the nation's dilemma. Their situation challenges us to reflect on various aspects of our cultural and societal norms in a globalised world. Poverty is what has placed most of these children on the streets.

Development failure

Decades of development failure in Jamaica have contributed to the misery of many lives and have torn families apart because of poverty and deprivation. The worst result of this failure is that it has served to reinforce the alienation between the poor and the better off. The poor are, therefore, always seeking to get something from those who seem better off. The problem is how to get those who are poor to climb the ladder of success and better their lives.

Children who live on the streets are at risk of joining criminal gangs or becoming prey to sexual and other abuses. Much has been written and said about how children are treated in this country whether in lock-ups or in state care, and it seems important that once again we should broach this topic. The country's record is not good on this score.

We cannot simply ignore these at-risk children and continue with our lives. The problem is not going away and perhaps the time has come for initiatives like the Possibility Programme to undergo a robust review with the aim of redoubling efforts to get more of our at-risk youth off the streets and into meaningful activities that will change their lives.

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