CHEQUES TOTALLING $1.2 million were handed over on Tuesday to six non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in human service activities from the Government's Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP).
The organisations are Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), which received $150,000; the Clarendon Association of Street People (CLASP), $100,000; the Manley Foundation, $150,000; Jamaica Association for Persons with Mental Retardation (JAPMR), $500,000; Jamaica Cancer Society, $200,000 and the Women's Media Watch, $100,000.
Senator Maxine Henry-Wilson, Information Minister, presented the cheques to representatives of the organisations at the SESP's offices at the Offices of the Prime Minister in Kingston.
The Minister said the allocations were to provide some financial support for the agencies, as they tend to "depend very much on the goodwill of others and voluntary contributions, and especially in this present economic climate, they tend to suffer from cash flow problem".
She noted that each organisation was involved in important areas of human endeavour. "We are happy that we can provide some form of help, even though it may be just the widow's mite. It's part of the government's commitment to NGOs," she said.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson explained that the SESP came about when the government was opting to target specific social assistance, rather than giving general subsides.
"I think over the years the programme has been quite helpful. We try to concentrate more on capital projects that will have some permanent and lasting effect. In that range, we concentrate on education, economic assistance and training," she noted.
Betty Ann Blaine, Founder and Executive Director of YOU, thanked the Government for the grant, noting that it was often difficult and almost impossible to solicit donations from companies given the economic situation of the country.
She said the YOU was a 10-year project which operated a mentoring programme, in addition to six other vital support programmes for adolescents such as home work programmes, peer and parent counselling, job placement and transitional planning.
"We try to ensure that the young people who are coming out of our programme are going to be doing something constructive with their lives," she said.
Ray Wilson of CLASP said it was not the first time the association was receiving help from the SESP. He said CLASP had been facilitating the rehabilitation of street people for over two years.
"We have had some significant results. Persons who lived out of garbage cans are now able to go to the shop and buy things. I thank the government for this contribution and hope for its continued support," Mr. Wilson said.
Danny Melville, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Michael Manley Foundation, said the organisation was devoted to community self-reliance.
He noted that it was a new organisation that was "just putting together seed money and this contribution should kick us off".
John Thompson, President of JAPMR, also expressed gratitude. He said the money would be used to assist in completing additional buildings.
JAPMR is a 40-year-old association that deals with persons who are slow learners, and are severely handicapped. It operates over 30 Schools of Hope with approximately 200 students and a staff of over 100 teachers.
