Jamaican Researcher

Mainstreaming rights in community work

November 2009 is the month I turned 30–quite a milestone–It was the most hectic that I can recall in years.

For the majority of the time, I was engaged in research on HIV prevention for Jamaican youth–which culminated in a presentation of findings (Securing our Future_ Presentation) and the distribution of the Report, which is featured in the my previous post.

Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica

In addition to that research, I was very busy traveling across the Jamaica, visiting five Social Development Commission (SDC) offices–Portland, Trelawny, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. James–to deliver key human rights materials, as part of the thrust to mainstream human rights (HR) in the everyday work of SDC community development officers.

The main training material that I used was the SEJ Community Development Manual for Trainers, which outlines the modules, subjects, presentations, forms and other useful tools for introducing residents to their development rights and responsibilities.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed between Jamaicans for Justice and the Social Development Commission in October 2009 sought to establish a partnership aimed at strengthening its officers for more effective community development programming. The commitment included:

1. Delivery of five training of trainers workshops to 65 participants,
2. Execution of a national print (newspaper, brochures and posters) and electronic (radio) multimedia campaign for four months,
3. Facilitation of nine community workshops across three unique communities and parishes reaching a minimum of 75 residents,
4. Establishment of an archive of HR materials in key locations in the parish, which are accessible to the public,
5. Integration of HR components in the annual plans of SDC officers as at March 2010,
6. Integration of HR as a key topic/ sub-topic in presentations by SDC officers to community leaders, etc.,
7. Distribution of digital support materials on HR to SDC officers in order to build their knowledge base on HR.

At a later date, when I’ve evaluated the key components of the MOU, I will publish the SWOT report, but preliminarily, all stakeholders agree that HR awareness is critical for community development.