Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
News
November 24, 2015

New initiatives for 2016 Safeguarding Children Conference

THE United Kingdom-based social work company One Step Forward Consultancy (OSFC), and the Victoria Climbie Foundation will expand the 2016 Safeguarding Children Conference to two days, to facilitate additional outreach activities and initiatives directly aimed at building the capacity of local child care programmes.

The first conference, held in Jamaica in May, attracted the support of local child care agencies. The 2016 conference is scheduled for May 5 to 6 and will be under the theme ‘Education, Training and Development.

Organisers said that among the new initiatives for next year are social work training and placements, during Child Month, of overseas-based social workers, trainees, interns, students and other young people involved in children’s services.

Director of One Step Forward Consultancy Patricia McKenzie-Thomas said the introduction of these new initiatives was based on feedback from the conference held in May.

“It was discussed and recommended at this year’s conference that consideration be given to introducing work/placements that will allow overseas professionals, students and youth workers to come to Jamaica to share and exchange experiences with local counterparts,” McKenzie-Thomas explained. “There will be liaison with universities, training institutions and organisations involved in child care to facilitate the voluntary placements within local organisations of young people in child care services, from the UK, United States, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.”

She noted that organisations which partnered with OSFC for the 2015 conference have again pledged their commitment, in addition to new partners.

Workshops in various activities and sports targeting at-risk youth will also form part of the new initiatives for the 2016 conference . Jamaica Welter Weight Champion Sakima Mullings of the Oracabessa Boxing Club is expected to lead the thrust to get at-risk youth involved in several boxing clinics across the island.

Mullings expressed delight at being given the opportunity to reach more at-risk youth across the island through his Oracabessa Boxing Club. “Myself and members of my team and the wider boxing fraternity will teach the youth the basic fundamentals of boxing which will involve live exhibition bouts led by our members who are actively involved in the youth boxing programme,” he said.

“Being a part of the conference held in May was a great experience, and with these new initiatives for the 2016 conference, I will be able to share with the youth what I have learnt about boxing, the benefits of being involved in this sport and the opportunities available that can positively impact and change their lives,” he said.

McKenzie-Thomas, meanwhile, said she is confident that the impact of the 2016 Conference will be even wider. “Based on the approach we have decided to take, we expect greater impact. However, we welcome other recommendations from the public and persons involved in the care and protection of children, as it is through our collective efforts that we will be able to better care for and protect our children,” she said.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Australia races to shield little penguins from H5N1 bird flu
International News, Latest News
Australia races to shield little penguins from H5N1 bird flu
August 19, 2026
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian wildlife workers have launched an unprecedented effort to vaccinate wild populations of little penguins against t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Morris Dixon lauds students’ CAPE, CSEC performances despite Melissa
Latest News, News
Morris Dixon lauds students’ CAPE, CSEC performances despite Melissa
August 19, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information says it is pleased with the country’s outstanding preliminary results for...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
TEF, UTech sign tourism agreement
August 19, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica have signed an agreement for business service ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
OAS chief urges Haiti to speed up election preparations
International News, Latest News, Regional
OAS chief urges Haiti to speed up election preparations
August 19, 2026
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) urged Haitian authorities on Wednesday to speed up voter registrat...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gas prices up $1.43, $.25, diesel up $4.50
Latest News, News
Gas prices up $1.43, $.25, diesel up $4.50
August 19, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see an increase at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, August 20, according to the latest ex-r...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica lists 60 public beaches with free access
Latest News, News
Jamaica lists 60 public beaches with free access
August 19, 2026
The Jamaican government has listed 60 beaches across the island that it says provides free access to the public. It comes against the background of cl...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Courts, ministries threatened as Trinidad investigates slew of bomb threats
International News, Latest News, Regional
Courts, ministries threatened as Trinidad investigates slew of bomb threats
August 19, 2026
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) –  The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Wednesday confirmed that there had been at least seven reports of bomb ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Forex: $159.41 to one US dollar
Latest News, News
Forex: $159.41 to one US dollar
August 19, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—The United States (US) dollar on Wednesday, August 19, ended trading at $159.41, up by one cent, according to Bank of Jamaica’s dail...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct