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The Problem
The city of Montego Bay, the tourist Mecca of Jamaica, is ringed by a
number of squatter settlements of which the villages of Granville,
Tucker, Pitfour, Retirement, and Irwin are fast growing communities
that cut across the socio-economic groups within the working and lower
middle classes.
This has led to their being unemployed and unemployable, an untenable
situation breeding frustration, dependency on the "Don", and other
anti-social behaviors. The rate of involvement in drug pushing and
use is high, and crime and violence are on the increase among youth.
Incest, sexual abuse and early pregnancy make the fabric of family
life fragile and often dysfunctional and so domestic violence is
common.
Of the many young adults most are functionally illiterate and
unskilled, having either dropped out of school, were irregular
attendees or had no school to attend.
One All Age school serves the area. Other social infrastructure is
inadequate to meet the needs of these communities which are contiguous
to each other and have become "dormitory villages" for Montego Bay.
Our Goal
The Sam Sharpe Teacher's College seeks to enable at-risk adolescents
with special needs to become positive individuals and leaders within
their families and communities; and to provide remedial education,
skills training and counseling to adolescents who are illiterate and
unskilled so that they may be employed.
Objectives
- To test and evaluate young persons, beginning with the group
most "at risk," the 10 - 14 year olds.
- To provide a process of referral and a program of intervention
in cases of need (social, cognitive, emotional, sensori-motor and
vocational).
- to conduct evaluation and data gathering, and to use this
information for the developmental needs of the young
- To provide a comprehensive program of counseling and career
guidance for young adolescent, and where necessary their parents
or guardians.
- To guide and rehabilitate teenage mothers and fathers through
a program of family life education and leadership training.
- To provide classes in literacy, numeracy, cultural awareness
and vocational training.
- To link with agencies, churches and other community-based
organizations to maximise opportunities for youth to obtain training,
therapy and counseling.
Contact Information
Box 40 Granville PO
St. James
JAMAICA, W.I.
Ph: (876) 952-4001-2
The Problem
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Our Target Population
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Our Programme
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