Mentors needed
Jones Town wants former residents to be role models for community youth
THE SOUTH St Andrew community of Jones Town is home to many bright but impressionable young minds, and 23year-old resident Tremaine Spragg is convinced that a mentorship programme is what is needed to steer them towards success and away from delinquency.
The St Catherine High School graduate, who was a vocal participant during the latest Gleaner/RISE Life Management On the Corner with Unattached Youths forum last Thursday, argued that while parents should be the chief motivators of their children, it would serve the youngsters better to hear from those who have made it out of the inner city through hard work and dedication.
“You have one and two persons in the area who the youth look up to, but it would leave a more lasting impact if we could get a little thing going where successful persons from outside the community come in, like every month or so, share their history, where they are coming from and how they got to where they are now,” argued Spragg.
“It takes a village to raise a child, and that village doesn’t necessarily have to be confined to Jones Town. We all know the stigma attached to these areas, and if you are not strong as a youth, you fall victim to that culture.”
He added, “So, it would do us a world of good to get some outside encouragement, every now again, from those who have elevated themselves through circumstances similar to what the youths face now. The parents and older persons could go as well, as some of them do need help or advice to be better able to motivate their children.”
UNEMPLOYMENT BREEDING CRIME
Spragg, an employee of the Jamaica Public Service Company, also called for a job fair in the constituency, as he charged that there are too many unemployed youth who are unable to legally maintain themselves occupying the street corners.
He argued that this high level youth unemployment of across the island is helping to breed crime.
“Through the job fair, those persons can get basic jobs because a lot of them don’t have the qualifications, but they may have skills that can be put to good use and become a livelihood. There’s also the possibility of on-the-job training, where persons can develop certain competencies or qualifications while working,” said Spragg.
“All in all, we need motivators and we need jobs.”