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Rehabilitation programme at Rio Cobre juvenile facility strengthened

Published:Monday | October 8, 2018 | 9:42 AM
Superintendent at the St Catherine-based Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional entre, Martin Dryden (left), along with Overseer, Carol Johnson, look at the trophies the wards have won for participation in the Jamaica 4-H Clubs expositions, sports, and other activities - Contributed photo

The rehabilitation programme for incarcerated youths at the St Catherine-based Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre is being strengthened to assist their productive re-entry into society.

Under the ‘New Path’ project, the classrooms at the all-male facility were recently upgraded to allow for expanded skills training and HEART Trust/NTA certification.

Superintendent of the facility, Martin Dryden, welcomed the support.

“Our thrust is to have them (wards) in a position where they can play a role in nation-building. They came in as part of the problem; now they will go out as part of the solution. That is my objective,” he said.

“I am all about rehabilitation, not punishment,” he emphasised.

The facility, which houses boys aged 12 to 18 years old, offers a rehabilitation programme that is focused on academics, skills training, and sports, among other activities.

Among the skills areas are agriculture, food and nutrition, sewing, and winemaking.

Dryden told JIS News that the boys have been doing well in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) over the years.

Their academic achievements, along with trophies and cash prizes won for showcasing their creative talents at the annual Jamaica 4-H exposition, have been a source of pride and motivation for the boys, he notes.

New Path, which is being implemented in juvenile facilities across the island, is aimed at providing hope to marginalised young people who have come into conflict with the law by providing them with the requisite skills necessary for reintegration.

It offers and facilitates weekly counselling, technical and vocational training, conflict-resolution programmes as well as opportunities for apprenticeship and internship.

It includes a music programme, in collaboration with the National Youth Orchestra, and a sports aspect facilitated by the Youth for Development Network.

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