Edwards

WESTERN BUREAU: The National Centre for Youth Development's (NCYD) Youth Information Centre (YIC) has been making a marked difference in the lives of St James' youth since it officially opened its doors at Humber Avenue in Montego Bay two months ago.

The centre features a cyber-café with free Internet access; a resource area and a conference room for meetings; counselling and referral services; empowerment sessions; career development and training opportunities.

Shabelle Johnson, a 14-year-old student of St James High School, told The Gleaner she spent her after-school hours at the centre following the shift-system school's dismissal at 12:15 p.m.

"My friends told me about it and I have been visiting for several weeks now. I like the quietness here. I also get to print assignments free of cost," she said.

"I prefer to visit here than going to the school or the parish library because students tend to fuss and sometimes I don't get through with the assignment because we only get a short amount of time on the computers."

According to youth-empowerment officer for St James, Arthnel Edwards, the St James YIC is one of five operating in the island.

He said the centres were a part of the NCYD's strategic objectives to create spaces and provide a supportive environment for their development.

"In the first month, we had 429 youngsters registered here," Edwards said.

"These centres are designed to be youth-centred and so they allow youth to be comfortable, discussing and accessing information on issues concerning them - from safe sex to HIV/AIDS to employment and personal advancement."

Robino Ricketts, 19, head boy at Cornwall College, said he visits the centre several times per week to study and to conduct meetings. He strongly recommended the facility, which he described as a "means of social reformation for youths".

"The atmosphere here basically gives a sense of belonging to almost every individual who is young. There are adults here who understand what the youths are going through and the challenges they face," said Ricketts.

"Outside of the social issues it helps us in terms of academics because there are various resources to deal with our academic needs."

He added: "It is a safe area where young people can hang out because the youth-empowerment officers are here to monitor them throughout and this will ensure that they don't find themselves in activities that can lead to some disaster. It provides a sense of freedom, yet there is a lot of guidance, because there are persons here to guide you while you are having fun - clean fun."

Sean Holtham, a 19-year-old HEART trainee, told The Gleaner he believed the centre was a sound national investment. He said he visits the facility to send emails and fax application letters.

"Without a doubt, it is a wise investment the Government made. It allows young people to grow to the best of their abilities," Holtham said.

"It is nice and accommodating to young people and is better than being on the street getting in trouble. It is very helpful because students can do their research and there are people here to help them with what they are doing."

In his July 2008 State of the Nation address, Senator Warren Newby, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Youth, said the Government had plans in place to ensure that YICs would be operational in all parishes within the next three years, to facilitate the empowerment of young people through the provision of information in a non-judgmental and friendly environment.

These schoolbys work on their assignments at the National Centre for Youth Development's St James Youth Information Centre on Wednesday. - Photo by Claudia Gardner

claudia.gardner@gleanerjm.com