MONTEGO BAY, St James — Two hundred and forty at-risk youth across three St James communities are set to benefit from a $38.5-million collaborative project by the Sandals Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This project, dubbed Supporting Youth Development through Positive Youth Engagements (SYD-PYE), was launched on Thursday at Sandals Montego Bay Robert Daddy Stone Conference Centre. It is funded by USAID under its Positive Pathways Activity in Jamaica and implemented in partnership with the Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica.

It will run for 12 months in the communities of Norwood, Flanker, and Salt Spring, with youth aged 10-24 years being prioritised for psychosocial support and mentorship, among other developmental and sporting activities.

The supporting youth development project is expected to positively affect the lives of students attending Flankers Primary, Albion Primary, Salt Spring Primary, Glendevon Primary and Infant, and Spot Valley High School, all in St James.

There is also a workforce development training component that is geared towards at-risk youth aged 15-24 years and some of their parents. In addition to that, 95 parents are expected to receive training in positive parenting and psychosocial support as the project aims to strengthen the family lives of these youth.

The implementing partner of this project, Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica, is a youth-led movement which was launched years ago to tackle crime and violence in schools and neighbourhoods.

In providing an overview of the project, representative of the Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica Kerry-Ann Walker said members are excited to work with the communities. She described the SYD-PYE project as timely and pointed out that the youth-centred project will “focus on addressing some of the most pressing risk factors for crime and violence that young people are exposed to on a daily basis”.

Paul Teeple, chief of party for the USAID Positive Pathways Activity in Jamaica, told those in attendance that the partnership with Sandals Foundation and other local stakeholders is an “opportunity to help 240 young Jamaicans build their resilience and set their paths for a brighter future”.

He also pointed to the societal benefits of engaging at-risk youth through positive support.

“These communities are an important part of the Montego Bay area economy, which underlines the importance of supporting at-risk youth to find positive paths for their and their community’s development,” said Teeple.

“The USAID-supported…project proposes to engage youth through non-traditional but highly effective modalities, such as art and sports, to address social and behavioural issues,” he added.

In speaking on behalf of executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International (SRI) Adam Stewart, Sandals Foundation’s Executive Director Heidi Clarke expressed optimism about this “new journey” being undertaken.

She noted that this project is one “that will reach within the chambers of three communities – Flanker, Norwood, and Salt Spring – building relationships, earning trust, understanding the passion and interest that drive our young people and supporting the infrastructure that can help them pursue and achieve their goals”.

Clarke referenced work done by the late chairman and founder of SRI, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, whom she said “made it his mission to reach within surrounding communities to engage the youth”.

“He understood the power that can be harnessed when young men and women have the opportunity to be trained, certified, and supported in their pursuits,” she said.

“Young people need avenues for expression, they need support systems and the belief that there is hope,” she added.

Clarke went on to state that the private sector has a major role to play in investing in the lives of young people.

“Over the years, the company [Sandals] and the Sandals Foundation have been intentional in our support of the next generation,” she said.

“There is power in youth engagement. It is our responsibility to create opportunities for them to express themselves, go after their dreams, and thrive,” said Clarke.

Welcoming the project was president of the Salt Spring Community Development Committee (CDC) Donna Wedderburn, who told the Jamaica Observer that she is grateful for the invention as her community has been plagued with stigma due to high levels of crime and violence over the years.

“My hopes are so high because the community of Salt Spring has had some stigma over the years. We are happy for those who are coming on board. The opportunities that they are presenting will be of great benefit,” she said.

According to Wedderburn, the project will assist in exposing youth to a different side of society as many of them have had limited interactions with positive and encouraging actions.

“A lot of them don’t have access to certain things. So being exposed, I think, is going to do great things for them. Some young people have never really been out of the community, so some don’t even know how to say thank you. So I think this is such a good move,” she told the Observer.