Contributed photos
LEFT: Roving caregiver, parents and children participate in a lively workshop organised by the Rural Family Support Organisation (RUFAMSO).
RIGHT: Play and learn equipment produced by RUFAMSO.

Garfield L. Angus, JIS Writer

"Looking back at where I was, I ask myself many times, 'is really Marva this?' "

The wonder inherent in Marva Ricketts' remark is testimony to the transformative influence of the Rural Family Support Organisation (RUFAMSO).

Ricketts, a mother of two, is studying to meet the matriculation requirements of the Mico University College where she intends to major in psychology.

"I was at home doing nothing and had no hope, but after meeting Ms Booth (a roving caregiver), who told me about available help, I started meeting with them, went back to school and gained three CXCs," the 28-year-old said.

In 1986, under the leadership of Joyce Jarrett, Utealia Burrell and a few volunteers, a rescue mission was started to manage the psychological and educational risks associated with children born of teenage mothers in poor rural communities.

They provided stimulation, day-care guidance and family strengthening to mothers and children, resulting in remarkable turnaround in the lives of those who participated in the programmes.

Evolved into NGO

The group began by providing counselling, remedial and childcare education, along with skills training for young mothers, under a drive called The Teenage Mothers Project.

This project was funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, a Dutch charity organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica and sponsorship from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

Ten years later, the group evolved into a full-fledged non-governmental organisation, named the Rural Family Support Organisation (RUFAMSO), targeting at-risk youngsters in central Jamaica and providing consultancy to other groups focusing on childcare development across the island.

"The environment we provided was a stimulating one. The whole purpose of it was to ensure that the children's lives, between birth and age three, were not left to chance," shared executive director of the group, Utealia Burrell. "Participants in the National Youth Service are on board working with us as volunteers, and we have reached many males and females who had limited or no career opportunities".

Roving caregivers

In keeping with its mission to "help rural communities experience a strengthened family base and the best possible quality of life", it provides a training component at the centre, situated at 2a Brooks Avenue in May Pen, Clarendon, where roving caregivers are given a two-week pre-service training.

In addition, one-week courses are run on a quarterly basis and fortnightly workshops are held to equip them on health and nutrition of children, self-esteem and child-rearing skills of mothers. After training, they are deployed in various communities and engage parents in discussions relating to development of children and income-generating projects, mainly baking and craft making.

"The children of the very poor have little in terms of stimulation, so we go into the communities and work with both children and parents. We have seen the outcome of what we are doing. UNICEF has lauded us and we have delivered to many," the executive director added.

A 2004 evaluation, funded by UNICEF and conducted by Dr Christine Powell, based at UWI, states: "The intervention was effective in improving both the children's development and the mothers' knowledge of child development and child rearing ... . Efforts should be made to continue support for the programme and spread similar programmes to other children."

Skills training

Having gained NGO status in 1996, RUFAMSO shifted its focus and engaged other age groups through its vocational training programmes. They have the Clarendon Youth Development Pro-gramme, targeting young ado-lescents, within the age group 10-14 years, who had their education affected by infrequent attendance and those who failed to make it into secondary institutions as a result of literacy and numeracy problems.

Also available is the Male Adolescent Programme, which gives at-risk males opportunities to gain marketable skills in barbering, woodwork and training in entre-preneurialism.

Of great satisfaction are the HEART/NTA qualifications offered in the areas of garment construction, hospitality skills, housekeeping, commercial food preparation and early-childhood education.

"These have helped many young mothers and I am quite pleased to see young men, who were on the streets waiting for trouble, but, through our training, have gained skills and are now making meaningful contri-butions to life," Burrell said.

Sentiments expressed by project officers overseeing the group's offerings suggest that a lasting impact has being left on both administrators and beneficiaries,

"During my 17 years with RUFAMSO, I have seen miraculous transformations. Some have gone on to become teachers and other professionals and they drop by at the centre and give different types of support," said project officer Edna Golding.

This is a collaborative feature between The Gleaner Company and the Jamaica Information Service.