Most young J'cans feel they would be better off overseas

Better abroad?

BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Observer writer morrisa@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

OVER half of the country's youths believe that their lives would be better if they lived overseas.

The 2010 Jamaica National Youth Survey (JNYS) released earlier this month by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) suggests that over 50 per cent of young Jamaicans who live in established households, and even more youths who are homeless see a brighter future for themselves outside of Jamaica.

The study, sponsored under the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government Youth Development Programme is the first of its kind and was conducted by STATIN and the National Centre for Youth Development (NYCD) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Development in two phases. The total number of youths who participated in the survey was 5,426 comprising 2,726 females (50.2 per cent).

One part of the survey dealt with 'Youths in Households', who are young resident Jamaicans between 15-24 years attached to households.

"Over 57 per cent of (household) youths reported that they thought their lives would improve if they lived in the United States. Fifty-two per cent thought they would be better off in Canada, and 57 per cent thought that living in England would improve their lives," said Leesha Delatie-Budair, senior statistician at STATIN's Surveys Division in delivering the summary of findings of the 2010 JNYS.

"Over 60 per cent of the (household) youths thought that their lives would not improve if they moved to another Caribbean island, while 29 per cent thought that life would improve," Delatie-Budair added.

The second phase of the survey, which focused on 'Street Youths' -- or young persons who are living, eating and working on the streets -- showed even more of these respondents saying their lives would be better if they lived in a foreign country, specifically the US.

"Eighty-two per cent of street youths, compared to 58 per cent of youths in households, indicated that they believed their lives would improve if they were living in the United States," Delatie-Budair said.

She named England as the second most popular country to which street youths said they wished they could migrate.

"Eighty-one per cent indicated that they believed their lives would improve if they were living in that country. Compared to 57 per cent of youths in households, street youths were more optimistic about life in England," she said.

Delatie-Budair went on to add, that Canada was the third highest among the preferred countries that Jamaican youths thought ideal.

According to the director of the NCYD, Roberta Brown-Ellis, the majority of those interviewed in the survey have placed high hopes on migration as they seek a better standard of living than they have at home.

"One key thing that we have to do is to listen to the voice of the young.

"However, youths must remember that they have a responsibility. They, too, have a part to play in regards to creating opportunities for themselves," Brown-Ellis said.

She went on to say that the survey has provided interesting and critical data about Jamaican youths and shows how best the country and government, including her agency can engage its young people and cater to their current needs.

The JNYS was conducted to highlight the economic and social well-being of Jamaican youths and its findings will inform the revision of the existing youth policy, in regards to health, education, training, employment, entrepreneurial opportunities, participation and empowerment, care, protection and living environments.

As such, STATIN, in association with the NCYD and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will host a series of workshops to address the findings and challenges presented by the survey.

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COMMENTS (27)

12/24/2011

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Anthony II
6/20/2011

Un Poco Loco, I am not that dunce. There is actually a difference of opinion on the use of "youths" as a plural in the current context. I also think it begs the question as to which "English" we use when we write.

Cassia Park
6/20/2011

Imagine living in a country that has air alerts meaning the pollution is so high and you have stay inside because it can damage your lungs,london,nyc,toronto,Los angeles,miami and many cities are on the list,long cold winters,never fresh fruit at all,always imported,racism,more violence than Jamaica on any given day,Than welcome to Foreign because these are all the facts,these young kids must forget ,Jamaica Land We Love,I rather struggle in jamaica than foreign anyday, I can pick my fruit

Cassia Park
6/20/2011

Unnu very funny,these are first hand facts here,I go to usa and majority of yardies living in new york are living in ghetto areas,in little apartments,I go england I see same thing and Canada I see same thing,I am not saying all Jamaicans,but I would say a very high majority of them are working many jobs and barely making ends meet living in crowded areas in apartments struggling even more than when they were in jamaica,so go run to farin,enjoy the pollution and cold,I will stay right here.

Isaac Riley Jr.
6/20/2011

Incidentally, there is a study coming out of NY by SUNY's Downstate Medical Centre and University Hospital Centre of Brooklyn that shows that Caribbean nationals (including us yardies) are fat & mentally ill. This attests to the high levels of stress that I spoke about.

Un Poco Loco
6/20/2011

Anthony II, you are very much a dunce when you say there is no word as "youths" Which Swahili dictionary are you reading from?

Cookie Bulla
6/20/2011

Apparently our young ones do not subscribe to the mantra" NUH WEY NUH BETTA DAN YAWD".....................Can you blame them?

Ann Smith
6/20/2011

A study just published here states that we are fat and mentally ill - post traumatic stress disorder is now classified as a mental illness - so the winters make you fat; the stress gives us ptsd (some of that was done at home) but some of the other crazy labels are just put on us.
I think I need to get out a here. Therapy session is closed.

Salt Fish
6/20/2011

LOL dem watch too much TV with blonde hair girls shaking booty and flashing cash around. I live in Canada and it's not bad, I went to university and now worked in the Animation and VFX film industry in Toronto. My reason for leaving Jamaica was for a better life and pursue a childhood dream of working on video games and movies. I missing Jamaica alot and my goal is to return and INVEST in JAMAICA! FARMING, EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT!! my point is, leave JA and Return!

Ann Smith
6/20/2011

I can understand their fears. It is very difficult to live in a country in which the pay is low and without money the stress is very high.
The countries mentioned have many more opportunities for their young people and the system of education is much better. However, the meanial jobs are usually delegated to the 'foreigners.'
Some of the children in the foreign countries have a difficult time as well.
Work with what you have; at least it is always warm there; take full advantage of education.

danny salmon
6/20/2011

I noticed that there was no mention of the LEVEL OF EDUCATION attained by these responders.
One glaring fact left out is that most Jamaicans who migrate or is wishing to leave for "greener pastures" are uneducated. Most can barely read and write, let alone have a Diploma/ Degree from one of Jamaica's top Universities/ Colleges.
Most on reaching "foreign" soon turn to drugs running, as a means of survival, rather than returning home, ashamed that they're unable to take advantage of any good job .

george watson
6/20/2011

Why the "young" in the caption. Most Jamaicans feel they would be better off overseas. But we are a country of red eye and ready done. We forget what the early Americans had to go through in the early frontier days.
And before anyone rushes to criticize me -- yes I have relatives who are over there, but it is not my choice.
It is not a now thing either. We went to Cuba, we went to England and we went to Panama. We even went to Russia.

Ian Emanuel
6/20/2011

this is one very profound article, is Jamaica really for Jamaicans

Isaac Riley Jr.
6/20/2011

As someone who literally grew up in NY (I was 5ft 11ins when I came & am now 6ft 2), 'farrin' isn't what it is cracked up to be. May I remind my people that there isn't anything post-racial about America: so you have to contend with that in addition to the high stress levels that accompany living in a 1st world country. Have you ever wondered why so many Americans rack up big credit card bills so that they can relax in JA? Think about it!

Stephen Fox
6/20/2011

@Jaye Stone, Protest against who? The Don's? Many of these young people have been ducking bullets fired by shottas and police their entire lives...

Sean H.
6/20/2011

It's not just the young ones either ...

Jus Irie
6/20/2011

Very interesting study, only because it confirms what all of us, home and abroad, already knew. What concerns me is big jump in the expectations of "foreign" life by our street youth. I wonder how many of our youth overall, understand that with that higher standard of living in developed countries, comes an exponential cast of living. That being said, the hardships of living in JA unwitting prepares it's citizens for success in places where many take opportunities for granted.

Antonette W.
6/20/2011

As the saying goes, "the youth are our future." Now if such a large percentage of the youth see leaving Jamaica as a better option than staying in Jamaica, the government is still not doing its job. Children are taught to study, do well in school because education is the key to success, then they graduate from school and waste away. Of course, if the opportunity presents itself they will leave. Jamaica needs educated young people to lead, but at what cost to them? No one wants to be a martyr.

Jaye Stone
6/20/2011

What does this society offer young people anyway? All they have seen for their short lives is a bunch of scheming, lying theiving adults who have wrecked any possibility of a bright future for them. What is even worse is that they do not even feel a sense of belonging; they have no fighting spirit, and they are not prpared to stand up for anything. They are in survival self-preservation. mode. Some feel they have nothing to live for here. In my day we used to protest. They don't. They run away.

Jakan 2011
6/20/2011

Just don't count Canada among those better prospects. Rather than working toward your goals, you have to spend too much of your energies knocking down the doors to upward social mobility. You are dead beat by the time you get in . .IF you EVER get in.
Take it from me, as an immigrant, this country wastes your time.

Courtney Blake
6/20/2011

i've been considering leaving for a while now, just haven't got the right opportunity, but the moment that comes along i'm gone, really doesn't matter where to me, the're lots of other places aside from the US and England

Fitzroy Whilby
6/20/2011

It is true that life for a number of these survey participants would be better abroad. As long as they are prepared to work hard, be ambitious, disciplined and law abiding. Those of us who have the experience of living in a foreign country are aware that one has to work real hard to live a comfortable life. We have learnt that life is not all about wearing brand name clothes and driving fancy cars. One must work hard to live comfortably. No handouts here, a dollar is a dollar not $85!!

MR C C
6/20/2011

The proud to Jamaican mentality gonna make unu starve to death!
While it great to be proud and want to make a difference in your home country, don’t be fools. If opportunities knock elsewhere then you need to answer. " Mi nah lef yaad, from last week mi nuh eat nuttin, but life good!" seriously??

Anthony II
6/20/2011

II. An interesting finding (for me, anyway) coming out of the study is the implication regarding how "farrin" is encoded in the JAM mentality. The other C'bean islands are not encoded as "farrin", so it is not surprising that, while a majority see their lives being better in US, CAN, and UK, they do not see the same happening in other places in the C'bean. Apparently, these young people have not been reading the economic/business pages these days. But that is how we think: "farrin" =US/CAN/UK.

Anthony II
6/20/2011

I wonder what the findings would have been like among people above 25 years old? I doubt that these findings come as a surprise to anyone who has been following developments in our country for the past several decades. It is even more worrisome in light of the lack of real efforts to engage young people who leave Jamaica; and even when you return, you are greeted by some "bad-mind", you have to wonder what you did wrong.
.
On "youths": There is no such word; it is "youth" (already plural).

andrew green
6/20/2011

50 percent sounds small i wold have guessed every jamaican except for the rich ones , its good to be proud but if your struggling to make ends meet every single day and thats way more than 50% of jamaicans then theres a big problem.

Ainsworth Cole
6/20/2011

I finally left Jamaica for good at the top end of the surveyed age group, the thing was I had no great motivation and interest in leaving while I was a teenager, I was happy with my life. It's when I became a young adult and saw the dwindling prospects, lack of real vision for change, deteriorating crime, and a young family that I started looking and thinking about a permanent move abroad. I believe I would be much happier If I could have stayed and enjoyed the same prospects in my own country

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Most young J'cans feel they would be better off overseas