RISE Life Management plans to launch a programme aimed at business training and job creation for at-risk youth.

Last week Thursday, CAC 2000 Foundation — the charitable arm of CAC 2000 Ltd — gave the not-for-profit group $300,000 to enhance the training and mentoring of a least 90 at-risk youth.

RISE Life’s mission, according to a release, is to provide educational, vocational and health-related services for at-risk populations.

“This partnership is one that is meaningful for CAC as service provider and employer,” said foundation head Gia Abraham. “RISE has given us an opportunity to provide more persons with access to business resources and education by funding training, mentorships, business coaching and back office support to aid youths in developing their own small businesses.”

The release said 90 youths will be targeted from communities islandwide, and trained in the development of their own small businesses.

According to Sonita Abrahams, executive director of RISE Life Management, “RISE anticipates that by training young persons to create jobs and opportunities within their communities, it will have a multiplier effect, thereby impacting approximately 400 additional lives.”

Psychology Today says mentoring is particularly beneficial to disadvantaged teens. Also, the release said a study from North Carolina State University showed that youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely to attend tertiary institutions when they have a mentor.

“RISE is currently implementing an islandwide intervention with funding from the European Union, aimed at building the capacity of 15 civil society organisations. This will include the creation of employment through the establishment of social enterprises for at-risk youth, marginalised women and other vulnerable populations,” Abraham said.

According to the release, RISE Life’s vision is in keeping with CAC 2000 Foundation of building a Jamaican society where young people and other vulnerable populations are empowered to make healthy lifestyle choices in a supportive and rehabilitative environment.

CAC Foundation was established in May 2016 with their key objectives being to promote and improve the education of youth in Jamaica and to work with other organisations and institutions that have similar interests to achieve this goal.