New mantra for CDA

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

More than 100 wards of the State attending schools in western Jamaica converged at the Hollis Peter Lynch Multi-Purpose Building in Montego Bay yesterday for the second staging of the Child Development Agency's (CDA) Exodus Remix Transition Programme.

Sheryl Clarke, convenor of Exodus Remix, and clinical psychologist with the CDA, said the initiative was a preparatory programme for young persons ages 16 to 18 who were getting ready to begin their lives as young, productive adults.

The programme seeks to empower wards with life-coping skills.

"I saw some of the youngsters ready to exit out of care and they expressed anxiety and uncertainty as to what was going to happen. There was nothing properly organised to assist them," she explained.

"So I came up with the concept of a major workshop where they are able to plug into the necessary services in one place."

Clarke pointed out that the programme brings together agencies of government and stakeholder organisations to engage and sensitise the youth on how to access services required for them to function in society.

One participant, Jason Willie, of Knockalva Technical High, had documents processed for his passport, and described the programme as beneficial.

"It is a very good programme. This is something that all young people should be given access to, it will help them to function well in society."

The CDA also unveiled its revised vision, mission and value statements during the Exodus Remix programme.

The statements were revised following last May's fire at the Armadale Juvenile Centre in St Ann, where seven female wards were killed and 11 injured.

The new mission statement says the agency would "provide care and protection beyond limits to our nation's children through love, advocacy, education, rehabilitation and family support because we are committed to valuing our children, their families and our team members".