USAID Youth Empower Activity in Jamaica
Project Director:
EDC Staff:
Amy West
Funded by:
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Partners:
University of West Indies, University of Technology Jamaica, RISE Life Management, Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, Jamaica 4-H Clubs
Focus Area:
Education Workforce & SystemsMental Health & WellbeingSuicide, Addictions, & Violence PreventionYouth & Workforce Development
Region:
Latin America and the Caribbean
Duration:
2023-2025
Challenge
EDC and its partners recognize the potential of Jamaican youth and the importance of fostering opportunities for education, employment, and civic engagement. Many young people face barriers to accessing coordinated services that support their growth and success. Strengthening pathways to certified training, work-based learning, and employment opportunities is key to ensuring that all youth can thrive.
The goal of the USAID Youth Empower Activity in Jamaica was to create sustainable, positive development in Jamaica with and for resilient youth and their communities to achieve their fullest potential and to support the prevention of youth crime and violence. The activity intended to support youth so they could recognize the entrepreneurial and creative assets they themselves possessed that could be used in positive, participatory, and productive ways.
Key Activities
The project intended to:
- Develop a flexible youth-responsive ecosystem that supports youth resiliency and workforce development for the most underserved and stigmatized youth populations
- Increase civic education and participation of youth in their communities to strengthen transferrable soft skills and build on local assets
- Strengthen peer-to-peer social and emotional support networks for greater youth-led community-based engagement
- Improve employability skills of youth to access soft skills, work-readiness skills, and work-based learning and livelihoods opportunities
- Coordinate with existing community-based support structures for youth well-being and resilience
Our Impact
The planned impact of the project:
- 10–12 communities across the island would be supported with positive youth development resources to mitigate existing patterns of crime and violence.
- 5,000 youth would engage in civic activities that promoted their agency and leadership in local development and decision-making.
- 4,000 youth and their households would see improved access to income-generating and livelihoods opportunities.
- 12–15 Jamaican partner organizations would improve their operational and technical capacities to address youth workforce development and resiliency needs and gaps.
