It is a bit lengthy, but below is a report I wrote about a forum YOU hosted yesterday. Youth Opportunities Unlimited has just wrapped up a 20-month program, funded by an arm of the Ministry of National Security. The project was aimed at reducing violence, increasing employment opportunities and creating general social cohesiveness in two neighbhourhoods (Rockfort and Mountain View) that have had major problems with violence and border conflict. YOU’s project officers ran parenting groups, employability training, leadership and life skills training for youth and general community improvement initiatives. These kinds of projects are notoriously difficult to measure as they rely on qualitative data, but using self-esteem scales and methods of measuring conflict, there were great improvements in both. Participation rates were another achievement, as it is difficult to get people out for these types of things, but they showed up consistently. YOU should be proud of itself.

Perhaps the words of Kashiann, a youth who has participated in Youth Opportunities Unlimited’s mentoring program, summed up the impact of the organization best: “I have come to respect myself more.” This sentiment seemed to be unanimous amongst participants and observers alike at an Aug. 15, 2012 evaluation forum celebrating the conclusion of its partnership with the Community and Security Justice Programme. Moderated by TVJ presenter Michael Sharpe and entitled “Communities on a Mission for Change,” the forum was held to evaluate all aspects of the 20-month partnership with CSJP that saw YOU actively involved in the communities of Mountain View and Rockfort.

This programming included mentoring, youth leadership training, parenting groups and community expositions, community involvement projects.In addition to * youth, presenters included YOU founder Betty Ann Blaine, CSJP’s Michelle Parker, Peace Management Initiative founder Horace Levy, Member of Parliament Andre Hilton and YOU’s Executive Director Mrs. Georgia Lewis Scott. There were also panels covering education and its role in the prevention of crime and violence, general violence prevention and, as well as panels evaluating community impact for both parents and youth. These serious topics were broken up by performances from a drumming group and a dub poetry performance, both of which had the audience riveted.

After a prayer by YOU’s Michela Bowen and a welcome from Deputy Executive Director Jason Lowe,  attendees heard from YOU founder Betty Ann Blaine, who told people that the 20 month project “successfully created a model for communities for how the nation can live together in harmony.” Mrs. Blaine added that this model must be replicated.Both Rockfort and Mountain View have been plagued by high levels of violence, border conflict, low employment rates and low school attendance rates among youth.

YOU’s programming tackled all of these phenomena and achieved measurable success in all aspects. “We demonstrated how we can build communities and build our nation with respect, dignity, hard word, dedication, creativity, and how all of those values are critical in creating communities,” Mrs. Blaine said. The key question, she added, is how you promote love.As Mrs. Lewis Scott said, part of the key to achieving this is to ensure that one’s values align with one’s actions. “To really have the kind of success we expect, we can’t be slovenly as a nation and expect a different outcome. There is a correct way to get things done if we want to have the kind of success we expect. We want to empower you to know how to know what it is to be safer in your communities.”CSJP’s Michelle Parker said that YOU’s programs took a “holistic approach to development process.  There is nothing we can do without the community if the community does not own what it is we are offering. Without that, we are not going to be successful.”

Member of Parliament Andre Hilton was hard-hitting in his comments. “We need to revers institutionalized rape, “ he said, explaining that the remnants of slavery continue to this day in the way citizens treat one another. To counteract this, he said, “We need to make sure that the positive young men in the community can take up youngsters and help them to become good men.” Mr. Hilton denied that beating a child can be beneficial, saying that it perpetuates the cycle of violence. He finished his speech on a positive note by saying that Jamaica’s success at the Olympics is just the tip of the iceberg and that youth must “start programming your mind for greatness because if you can conceive it, you can achieve it.”

Mr. Hilton was followed by Peace Management Institute Founder Horace Levy, who gave a perfunctory but effective speech on the progress made in violent neighborhoods such as Rockfort. But first, Levy warned that tough times are ahead as the world struggles in recession. The result is a lack of regular work for youth, with young men being particularly vulnerable. Young men also struggle with a lack of education, hope for the future, means to control their anger and drug and alcohol addiction. In addition, Mr. Levy called for better relations with the police, adding that “police repression must stop.” On a positive note, Mr. Levy said that the garrison mentality is waning, but that residents must continue to stand up to the dons with the help of community organizations. “Without organizations, no development can take place. Parenting and youth groups are crucial because communities need to have a voice in local government.”The afternoon continued when parents and youth groups split into separate evaluation sessions and other participants engaged in a discussion on education and its role in the prevention of violence. It concluded with a presentation from Mrs. Lewis Scott, who lauded YOU staff and thanked the community members for their participation.