The second group of children to serve on the Child Development Agency’s (CDA) Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) was made official at a recent handing over and appreciation ceremony, held at the Pollyanna Restaurant, in Kingston on Friday, February 20.

The ceremony was held to officially welcome the new panel, and express appreciation to the out-going members for their service to the CDA from 2012 to 2014.

The new 15-member panel, which will now serve from 2015 to 2016, was pulled from different sectors of the society to provide child-friendly advice to CDA’s Executive Management Team and Advisory Board.

Chief Executive Officer of CDA, Rosalee Gage-Grey lauded the out-going CAP members for their achievements, noting that the youngsters have served the agency well in a number of areas resulting in greater benefit to children across Jamaica.

While encouraging them to continue being agents of change, the CEO declared: “We are proud of all you have accomplished with us. We have watched you guys grow from strength to strength, and we know that you will go on to achieve even greater things in this nation and the world.”

Since being established in 2012, she observed, the CAP has conducted research on the experiences of wards and staff in four government facilities to better assist the CDA to improve services; provided an independent review on the Trafficking in Persons Act; facilitated regional stakeholders meetings and sessions on the Child Care and Protection Act, as part of the review process; conceptualised and staged Jamaica’s first National Children’s Summit and participated in the Caribbean Child Research Conference over the years and others.

In welcoming the new panel, headed by chairperson Meca-Gaye Francis, who is also former secretary of the outgoing panel, the CEO pledged the same love, support and nurturing to the group that was offered to the previous panel, while charging them to carry on the legacy of their forerunners.

“Your predecessors have left you a solid legacy of achievement, and we are confident you will take this baton and run your own race and chart your own course. We look forward to the new and exciting ideas that you will bring to the table, and your youthful, yet wise guidance, as we work together to build a Jamaica that is fit for our children,” she said.

She said that the agency fully adheres to the principles of child participation, in keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which notes that children must have a say, and their opinions taken into account when decisions are being made on their behalf.

Giving the keynote address, Youth Mayor for Kingston and St Andrew, Jahzeal Clarke in his address, praised the outgoing team for their effort, and encouraged the new panel to lead with impact and purpose.

“Life is not all about achieving (your personal goals), or having your name out there. It’s not all about receiving awards. It’s about inspiring people and less profiling. So put your shoulders to the wheels and gracefully embrace the task that lies ahead, and in doing so, be proactive leaders,” he said.

Out-going chairperson, Charles Young in his remarks, said that having led the panel for one term, has been one of his greatest accomplishments because it has afforded him the opportunity to inspire change with the support of his team members.

The young leader encouraged the new panel to rely on each other for support, and develop a spirit of togetherness in fulfilling their commitment to the CDA, which is charged with their mandate of safeguarding the welfare of children in need of care and protection.

“I hope that the new panel will pick up where we have left off, and have greater achievements, because if you work hard, your legacy will live on for others to follow. It feels good to be handing over to a group of young dynamic individuals, who are just as capable to do the job at hand. I can tell you that you will experience challenges, but use them as your opportunity to grow and become stronger,” Young said.

Outlining some of the plans of the new panel, incoming CAP chairperson, Meca-Gaye Francis said that her team will seek to visit and institute child-governed councils in various residential child care facilities, which will serve as an extension to CAP, based on suitability, in line with the objectives of the Panel.

“As a team let us embark on a quest for change, because we are young, talented, dynamic, and filled with potential. We will carry on the baton of the previous group full speed ahead, and serve the CDA and by extension the nation’s children with our utmost best,” Gayle said.

Meanwhile, newly appointed CAP youth advisor, Janine Henry who welcomed the audience, encouraged the new panel to have fun while being advocates for children in Jamaica.

Continue to champion the cause of children in State care and leave a long-lasting legacy as we did, because the CDA believes in you, but it is very important that you all believe in yourselves to be the change,” the former CAP Vice Chairperson said.

Thanking the guests at the ceremony, public relations officer for CAP, Kemario Davis said: “We thank the CDA for believing in us as young leaders, and giving us a voice to express our opinions, and to shine as children.”

In the meantime, out-going member and current advisor to the new CAP Kadeem Simpson gave the closing remarks, encouraging the new members to capitalise on the opportunity being afforded to them, and see it as a symbolic moment in their life, for which they would reap great rewards for future endeavours.

“Use this opportunity as a stepping stone, even though some of you have previously served, while others are new members, but together we all can reach out to children in Jamaica and positively impact their lives, those in State care particularly,” he said.

CDA’s research and development manager, Randell Bailey who chaired the day’s proceeding, congratulated the out-going panel on their accomplishments, while encouraging them to live up to their dreams and aspire for greatness in their undertakings.

Highlights of the event included the changing of guards from the past chairman to the present, presentation of welcome packages to new CAP members, as well as a special performance by popular entertainer, Nickeisha Barnes.

Representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Culture; the Ministry of Labour; the Office the Children’s Registry (OCR), the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) and UNICEF were also shared in the moment.