The Jamaica 4-H Clubs has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Child Development Agency (CDA) in an effort to broaden the reach of agricultural training while fostering the development of children in state care.

Document signed

The document signed by the two agencies has formalised the existing partnership between them and provides the scope for expansion of agricultural training to children under the state's care.

Lenworth Fulton, executive director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs noted that while the organisation's emphasis has been in schools, it has also been working with Places of Safety. "The Jamaica 4-H Clubs wants to work closely with a wide cross section of youths to include wards of the state," he said.

A management team comprising representatives from the CDA and the Jamaica 4-H Clubs is to be established to coordinate the implementation of the training programmes in Places of Safety across the island.

Alison Anderson, chief executive officer of the CDA, said the partnership with the Jamaica 4-H Clubs would enhance the agency's mandate "to ensure that when children in state care exit the system, they are equipped with the knowledge and skills that are needed for their reintegration into the wider society."