Second-chance institutions in western Jamaica get financial boost

MONTEGO Bay, St James:

The United States (US) Embassy in Jamaica has provided a grant to the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) that will benefit over 2,500 young people attending the 56 Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) centres islandwide and similar private institutions.

Under the theme 'Read Plus', the NCDA has developed a behavioural change programme that brings together the prevention of substance abuse and stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

"Substance abuse and HIV/AIDS are a double whammy. The US grant boosted the efforts of the NCDA to develop another first-class prevention programme that can be customised to meet the needs of different target groups," explained Michael Tucker, NCDA's executive director.

"We have built a solid intervention around common themes that affect both substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. This is a most efficient use of prevention resources."

Multiplier effect

"Read Plus will use a trainer methodology to achieve multiplier effect. One hundred and twenty tutors and peer leaders in various institutions will be trained in Champion Training Sessions. This group will replicate the training across their institutions.

The first training session for Read Plus Champions takes place today at the JFLL Training Room on Humber Avenue in Montego Bay. The event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

The 2011 round of Read Plus will end in November, which is observed as Drug Awareness Month. The NCDA will mount a national poster competition titled 'Pure Livity' to showcase the talent and information garnered by participants during the Read Plus experience.