Raquel Thompson, principal of the Professional Development Institute and Girls' Town pictured in her office at the institution's Maxfield Avenue premises. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
THE PROFESSIONAL Development Institute and Girls' Town was established to 'Give forsaken young people a second chance'.
The institution was originally known as 'Girls' Town' when it was founded by Jordanian-born Odene Josephs 37 years ago. Her vision was to meet the vocational needs of the Maxfield Avenue community.
Mrs. Joseph's vision, explained current principal Rachel Thompson, was modelled off the famous Boys' Town on Collie Smith Drive. "This institution gives school dropouts a second chance to become literate," said Ms. Thompson in explaining its purpose which includes skills training in conjunction with the HEART Trust/NTA.
"Initially we catered for women who were dropouts of the regular school system or had a vocational inclination. However, in the last three years, under the governance of Whole Life Ministries, the programme has expanded to include males," she said. This, because "we felt they too had a need for training because they comprise a large percentage of the unemployed population."
Girls' Town offers remedial classes for students to combat the high rate of illiteracy. This project is part sponsored by HEART who pays about 55 per cent of the budget while Whole Life Ministries covers the other expenses.
Running the institution is costly and indeed it had to be taken over three years ago by Reverend Al Miller's Whole Life Ministries when financial problems threatened to close the institution. And as the Rev. Miller admitted, it turned out to be a greater burden than he expected current operating costs are US$200,000 per year.
But as he explained "it's the whole factor of giving young people a second opportunity, particularly among the inner-city poor ... It's in keeping with our holistic approach to empowering our people to make something of their lives."
J. C.
