Male mentors to empower Parade Gardens youth

PARADE GARDENS is not one of the glorified communities in Kingston for a plethora of reasons. Many of its residents, especially the young men, are underserved and undergoing various challenges.

But there is hope, as there is an initiative, partnered by the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ) and RISE Life Management Services, to empower these youth to become leaders in the Jamaican society.

It is a one-year, structured mentorship programme targeting the boys from that community, located in the south-central part of the city. “It’s part of a broader effort to support youth development and positive male engagement in underserved communities,” a release from HRMAJ/RISE says.

“The partnership reflects the growing commitment of Jamaica’s corporate sector to work more closely with civil society organisations and invest in holistic programmes to develop Jamaica’s most valuable resource, its people,” the release also says.

“Through this initiative, the HRMAJ will mobilise its network of male professionals to serve as mentors. The sessions will be incorporated as a part of the life-skills training offered by RISE in its after-school programme for children age seven to 14.”

The project was launched on Thursday, March 20, with the first session being held on the same day at RISE, which is where the after-school programme is conducted. There are about 15 boys in the after-school programme. The first session, titled ‘Building Self-Esteem and Confidence’, was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Rohan Robinson, a decorated leader in the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force.

According to the executive director of RISE, Nadine Chambers Goss, “There is a wealth of potential among our youth that can be unlocked through mentorship. For our boys especially, mentors play a key role in helping them develop a positive sense of self, strong core values, and motivation to become leaders in different spheres of their lives.” But, why is Parade Gardens targeted?

“HRMAJ, through its Charity & Community Outreach Committee (CCOC), was seeking a strong civil society organisation to partner with that has a solid history of delivering successful and impactful projects. Knowing of the positive work RISE has been doing for many years, especially in Parade Gardens, where it is domiciled and where there is so much need for positive male influence, the after-school programme operated by RISE for children of the community was selected,” Chambers Goss told The Gleaner.

And in speaking on behalf of the CCOC, HRMAJ Board Director Colinnette Wilson said the partnership was launched at a critical time, as many boys and young men in Jamaica lacked access to structured mentorship and professional guidance.

“This gap limits their ability to develop essential life skills, make informed career choices, and transition successfully into adulthood. By partnering with RISE, the Charity and Community Outreach Committee is enabling a development-focused mentorship programme with a special focus on supporting young males, so they can access practical guidance on navigating personal and academic challenges and be better able to thrive in the future”, Wilson explained.

This directly aligns with HRMAJ’s mission of empowering the future workforce. According to HRMAJ First Vice President Melissa Anderson, “This partnership is a vehicle through which they can deliberately focus on equipping the next generation of Jamaican males with the tools they need to lead productive lives and positively contribute to the nation.

“As we fortify the HR profession and our future workforce, it is important to have equal representation of both genders. That balance is important to have robust and transformational dialogue and take action on the needs of our people at the organisational level, as well as at the national level as it pertains to policy and programme development,” Anderson said.

RISE Life Management Services “is a vibrant and dynamic non-government organisation that has made a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable populations in Jamaica for over 30 years. It is a team of experienced professionals: administrators, counsellors, project managers and youth development practitioners, who have given years of dedicated service,” RISE says on its website.

Its mission is “to empower vulnerable populations, including those suffering from addictive disorders, by delivering programmes that create pathways for them to realise their full potential, and to support Jamaica’s national development by building the capacity of civil society organisations”, while its vision is to see “a Jamaica where young people and other vulnerable populations are empowered to make healthy lifestyle choices in a supportive and rehabilitative environment”.