KINGSTON, Jamaica — Twenty years after its founding, local lobby group Hear The Children’s Cry (HTCC), is urging Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora who are concerned about the challenges and needs facing Jamaica’s children, to contribute through its Amber FundMe platform at https://amberfundme.com/campaign/help-stop-jamaicas-missing-childrens-crisis.

Founder of HTCC, Betty-Anne Blaine, said the contributions will help the organisation to maintain and expand the range of services it offers the country’s most vulnerable children. She said expanding to every corner of Jamaica was a key goal as HTCC marks its 20th anniversary.

“We have launched a drive to maintain our critical services and expand our outreach to more children, families and communities across Jamaica,” said Blaine in a press release.

She described HTCC as Jamaica’s most vocal voluntary child welfare organisation, highlighting that it provides “urgently needed services for Jamaican children and young people, many of whom face daunting odds and severe social and economic challenges”.

She added that HTCC was established in 2002 and combines vigorous, high profile advocacy with practical programmes for children, families and youth.

These include an islandwide schools’ safety programme and positive parenting education outreaches, family counselling and community support, public education on child rights and needs, a prevent-a-dropout programme, a special educational support initiative for formerly missing children and youth employment opportunities.

Blaine said donations to the Hear The Children’s Cry 20th Anniversary Drive on Amber FundMe will be used to provide:

-Transportation, travelling, and additional family support expenses for its Runaway Prevention Programme, involving face-to-face and community outreaches.

– School Re-Integration Programme – sustaining and expanding work with formerly missing children and their parents to ensure that they complete their education and achieve high school graduation. Assistance also includes school fees and school materials – books, electronic devices, uniforms, bus fares and lunch money.

– Acquisition of a mobile custom-fitted mini-van for HTCC’s Counselling Clinic on Wheels Initiative that will take its vital services to every Jamaican community.

– Schools’ Safety Programme – providing children of all ages with life-saving tips on how to keep themselves safe, involving workshops, social media outreaches, publication and distribution of flyers and posters.

– Expanded Parenting Education which provides ‘positive parenting’ materials and refreshments for PTA meetings, as well as telephone counselling support and home visits.