“There is much cause for concern regarding the state of Jamaica’s children. Thousands of youngsters continue to be the victims of violent crimes, to be traumatized by witnessing murder and other violent acts in their homes and communities, to be abused in many homes, and to suffer from neglect, abandonment, abductions, homelessness and exploitation by criminals, from abuse by uncaring and/or uninformed care givers ,from poor education and from injustices resulting from inadequate and often inept essential national services”…Betty Ann Blaine, Convener, Hear the Children’s Cry.
MISSION
• To serve as the voice of Jamaica's children in the advocacy required to keep the concerns and interests of children at the forefront of Jamaican life.
• To undertake direct programmatic work on behalf of children and youth.
• To engage in public education activities that promote and involve children and their parents/guardians.
• To facilitate and encourage children to speak for themselves on issues they deem important, and for their rights to be enforced and respected.
BACKGROUND
The Hear the Children’s Cry is Jamaica's most vocal advocacy group, focusing on the atrocities, abuses, neglect and traumatization of Jamaican children, and the denial of their God given rights. Established in November 2002, it is an umbrella group of organizations providing services for children and young people. Convener is Mrs. Betty Ann Blaine. Since its inception, Hear The Children’s Cry has organized a series of high profile national events, maintained a vibrant media advocacy programme, and launched several critically-needed programmes for children and youth:
“Youth For Change” – An outgrowth of the Jamaica Education for All (EFA) Youth Challenge programme in the Grant’s Pen Community of Kingston. The project, managed and extended by Betty Ann Blaine, Convener, Hear The Children’s Cry, recently received the World Bank Award for best-practice in the area of work with “unattached” males, 15-25 years old. The project culminated in the production of a handbook, written by Betty Ann Blaine, entitled, “How To Re-Engage Unattached Young Males Living in Volatile Inner-City Communities”.
“Prevent A Drop Out” - Conceptualized and designed to provide support for children in the formal school system who are prone to dropping out of school. The aim is to ensure that every child graduates from the secondary level. The programme is also designed to positively impact crime and violence through the cauterization of the school drop-out problem.
Focusing on grades 8 and 9 (the point at which students are most likely to drop out), the programme provides five critical interventions for students – Remedial Education, Lifeskills Training, Mentoring, Career Guidance and Family Life Education.
"Missing Children’s Support Programme" – Created and implemented to provide support for missing children and to engage in advocacy to eliminate the problem of missing and abducted children. Sponsored by the Jamaica Yellow pages, the programme seeks to achieve the following objectives:
• Engage in research, data gathering, data analyses and documentation
• Publish and disseminate information
• Engage in public education campaigns
• Conduct Schools’ Prevention programme
• Provide counseling for families, especially siblings of missing children.
• Networking with law enforcement, government and other relevant agencies.
• Engage in media activities
"National Youth Help Projects" – A broad initiative to engage school leavers and “unattached” youth in training and employment opportunities on a national scale. Youth will be mobilized, screened, trained, and dispatched in all areas of employment, and will be monitored and evaluated at every step of the process.
National Youth Help Projects will rely heavily on the private sector to support employment opportunities for the beneficiaries, as well as create and foster linkages and partnerships with a number of government agencies.
"National Children’s Lobby" - One of the highest priorities of Hear The Children’s Cry is the horrendous challenge represented by current levels of sexual violence against children. After hosting a National Mini Summit on this issue in September 2006, the Hear The Children’s Cry launched a dynamic “action group”, the National Children’s Lobby. The Lobby continues to implement the recommendations of the Mini Summit, and other vital child welfare initiatives, through innovative high priority programmes for children.
OTHER ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Advocacy on all issues relating to children and parents, including:
• Parenting Education in schools across Jamaica
• Parenting Talks in churches across Jamaica
• Public Appearances
• Organizing national events
• Vibrant Media Advocacy Programme: radio, television, print media
• Networking & Referral Services for Children and Parents in Crisis
• Lobbying for Legislative Changes
• Production/Dissemination of material on child protection
• Production/Dissemination/ of material and support on missing children
ACHIEVEMENTS
The sensitization of the nation at large to the critical problems affecting Jamaican children has been effected through the following achievements by the organization:
• Direct programmatic/project work
• An unrelenting campaign of press releases, radio and television interviews, focusing on violations of the rights of Jamaican children at every level;
• An Islandwide Parenting Education Programme;
• An Islandwide Programme of Public Education/Motivational Talks encouraging family and community members to become active child advocates;
• Hosting of a Mini Summit on Sexual Violence Against Children, sponsored by the LASCO Group, staging of a follow up meeting, and the launch of an “action group”, The National Children’s Lobby, to work on the resulting recommendations;
• A national march to protest unprecedented levels of criminal violence;
• The facilitation of two demonstrations by children, including one where Parliament was peacefully picketed, to draw attention to the atrocities being suffered by children;
• A three day sit in at Half Way Tree Square calling for increased protection of children;
• The production and dissemination of a flyer offering parents/guardians practical tips on ensuring their children's safety. This was first handed out to passing motorists and pedestrians at the Half Way Tree sit in, and continues to be given out nationally;
• Practical assistance to individual children and families in crisis, provided through the Committee's Networking and Referral Service;
• Meetings with Parliamentarians and other government officials, pressing for legislative and other reforms to relieve the suffering of Jamaican children;
• Networking with a host of like minded organizations.
• Special intervention programme at school to prevention children from dropping out
• Support and counseling to siblings and families of missing children
• Support programmes for school leavers and “unattached youth in the areas of training and employment.
Priority Programmes of the National Children’s Lobby
The National Children’s Lobby is currently working on nine high priority programmes focusing on critical issues affecting children. These are:
1. General Advocacy on behalf of children.
2. An Anti-Sexual Abuse Campaign
3. Islandwide Parenting Education
4. Public Awareness: Production of Publications/Audio-Visuals
5. Advocacy for Legislative Reform
6. Referral/Support Services for Children/Families in Crisis
7. Networking with Educators
8. Research & Documentation/Resource Centre
9. Inter-active Website for Children/Young People
CONTACT US
Individuals and organizations interested in working with us may
contact Hear the Children’s Cry, 48 Constant Spring Road, Kingston
10. Telephone:- 929-0431; 822-0483, 822-7658; fax:923-6102
e-mail: hearchildrencry@yahoo.com
AREAS FOR VOLUNTEERISM
1. Continuing Public Awareness Programme on the plight of children
2. Consistent lobbying for relevant Legislative Reforms
3. Networking with Like-Minded Organizations,
4. Research and Information Dissemination.
5. Establishing Resource Centre on Children’s Issues.
6. Vigorous Policing of the Media, the Entertainment Industry and Other Influential Groups, to reduce children’s access to sexually explicit and lewd material, and to advocate against disrespect towards women and children.
7. Building Strategic Alliances with Similar Interest Groups locally, regionally and internationally.
8. Working with Political Representatives on behalf of Jamaican Children
9. Working to give Jamaican children and young people a voice, and a say in the issues that affect them.
10. Prevent A Drop Out Programme for 8th and 9th graders at high schools.
11. Missing Children’s Support programme
12. National Youth Help Projects
LIST OF ITEMS NEEDED BY HEAR THE CHILDREN’S CRY
1. Computers
2. Desks
3. Chairs
4. Microwave
5. Computer Desks
