Monthly Featured Project

The Jamaica Violence Action Fund (JAVA) project hosts information fairs in inner-city communities

 

 

 

 

Jamaica has a long history of social programmes designed to help disadvantaged members of society attain a better life. As a component of the JSDF Grant, the JSIF implemented Jamaica Violence Action Fund (JAVA), finances crime and violence prevention activities in high-risk areas in an effort to curb urban decay and criminality in broad swathes of the island stretching from the Corporate Area to May Pen in Clarendon, as well as St James.

In collaboration with Hope for Children, the JAVA project has been hosting information fairs in selected inner-city communities across the corporate area. This is in aid of providing the residents of these communities with necessary information to access social programmes and amenities that will assist them in improving their quality of lives. According to Ayanna Demetrius, project manager for the JAVA Fund,

“The overall goal of the JAVA project is to empower residents, within these targeted communities, to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to the attainment of a secure, cohesive and just Jamaican society, which is in line with the goals of the Vision 2030 Development Plan.” Information fairs held in Upper Jones Town and Greenwich Town in St. Andrew were well attended by both residents living in and around the communities.

The project reflects priorities established in dialogue between the World Bank, the Government of Jamaica through the Planning Institute of Jamaica, JSIF and the Japanese Government.

Areas of attention in the selected communities include mediation and conflict resolution; social programmes for youth at risk, aimed at violence prevention and social support services for vulnerable families.