Evans
Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
FACED WITH the combined perils of social inequalities and political violence, many inner-city youths have found it difficult to make something worthwhile of their lives.
It has become quite common, actually, for persons who are born in the 'ghetto' to be met with brick walls of rejection when in pursuit of jobs and career interests.
For many, life has been a struggle to evade the path that society has dictated for them, as one inner-city youth says: "There are subconscious biases against job applications with downtown Kingston addresses on them."
Customarily, persons who have these addresses are forced to learn the trades of deception early and have to resort to using the address of a friend or relative living 'uptown'.
Organisations like the Mel Nathan Institute and the Mustard Seed Communities have, however, committed themselves to helping 'the most vulnerable members of society', and for their efforts, last week received the Prime Minister's Medal for service to community development.
The Mel Nathan Institute, which has been in existence for almost 25 years, has had a number of programmes set up and running islandwide, but has maintained its priority interest in inner-city communities like Hannah Town.
The operations of the Institute include the Mel Nathan Preparatory school (said to be the only full-scale preparatory school in the inner-city area), trade training centres, including the Edith Dalton James Community College (that does skill training in electrical installation, auto mechanics, catering, clothing and textile among other areas), and 'Melna Fashions', a garment factory which produces uniforms and clergy wear, and has provided employment for some who have been through the skills training programme.
SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH
According to the Reverend Dr. Maitland Evans, chairman of the Mel Nathan Institute, just last week, more than 80 students graduated from the vocational training school, of which nearly 70 per cent were males.
The success of the Institute's outreach programmes, The Rev. Dr. Evans says, is due to the comprehensive approach they have taken in seeking to empower persons living in these areas.
"It is a combination of working with all persons, from the cradle to the grave, irrespective of political allegiance or favour."
Reference was also made to the staff of the Institute, who Reverend Evans says, have been with the institution for some time now and, as such,
has developed an in-depth understanding of the needs of persons they work with in these communities.
"They have developed a long-lasting relationship," he said.
INTERESTS OF CHILDREN
The Mustard Seed Communities have also been around for more than 20 years, but have opted to focus their attention on a different aspect of making life more bearable.
They have set up outreach projects in communities like Bell Rock, that care for and assist children with both physical and mental disabilities, while involving community members in activities such as construction of basic homes and taking care of the elderly.
They have also been able to set up and operate a number of day-care centres and homes of care, like 'Jerusalem' (similar to a children's home).
According to a spokesperson at the organisation's headquarters, the age of "our children" range from about age three to adulthood, and as such, they have been implementing programmes that will cater for their physical and psychological needs and development.
There are also plans in the pipeline to establish and develop a housing project for squatters, the spokesperson said.
Both organisations continue to make positive marks in empowering and caring for the 'lessers of society' who were not privileged enough to have been presented with equal opportunities, or having a fair start at making something of their lives.
Lisa Rowe, who says that the work of the Mel Nathan Institute has had a positive impact on her life, is grateful for the opportunity to make something of her life.
Before coming in contact with the institute, she was a high school drop-out, and was faced with the dim future of 'ghetto reality'.
According to her, "If you are a female, it is expected that you become a teenage mother and stay home with the children or do some hustling."
Now, Lisa has been trained to be a seamstress and she has been working at Melna Fashions for the past two years.
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privacy.
