KINGSTON, Jamaica— In a decisive move to tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment, the Jamaican government, in collaboration with the HEART/NSTA Trust, is launching the Community Action for Rewarding Engagement (CARE) program. This initiative is strategically designed to connect with and uplift young Jamaicans aged 14-24 who are neither employed nor enrolled in any educational or training programs.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness unveiled this ambitious program during his Budget Debate contribution in the House of Representatives on Thursday, emphasizing the critical role of the HEART/NSTA Trust. “HEART must prioritize this demographic. We need to proactively identify these young individuals across Jamaica and create pathways for them to gain valuable skills and enhance their employability. HEART will take a proactive approach to reach out and guide them towards the wealth of training opportunities available. For Jamaica’s economy to achieve robust growth, we must ensure that every capable Jamaican actively participates in the labor force,” stated Prime Minister Holness.
The CARE initiative will be implemented across all 63 constituencies in Jamaica. Each Member of Parliament will play a crucial role in identifying 30 young individuals within their constituency based on specific criteria established by the CARE program. Following this identification phase, a dedicated team from the HEART Trust will conduct home visits and community outreach to engage with these young people and enroll them in suitable training programs tailored to boost their chances of employment.
Recognizing the financial barriers that can hinder participation in training, the CARE program includes a monthly transportation grant of $15,000 Jamaican dollars. This grant is specifically intended to alleviate transportation costs for participants traveling to HEART institutions and is directly linked to their attendance, incentivizing consistent engagement with the training. Adding further support, Prime Minister Holness announced, “All trainees enrolled in the CARE program will also receive a weekly stipend of $13,000 Jamaican dollars for the entire duration of their training.” This financial assistance aims to support trainees’ living expenses while they focus on acquiring new skills.
Prime Minister Holness also highlighted the flexible nature of the CARE program, acknowledging that not all participants may require extensive training. For some, the program will facilitate direct job placement, mentorship opportunities, and professional career guidance. HEART will coordinate these support services to ensure participants receive the most appropriate assistance to enter the workforce successfully.
“We recognize the urgent need to address the skills shortage; it has become a national emergency. We must utilize all available strategies, including encouragement and incentives, to encourage more Jamaicans to join the labor force. While HEART is leading this crucial effort, partnerships are essential. HEART will collaborate with reputable and accountable organizations on various initiatives to attract and train a larger segment of the Jamaican population for the workforce,” Prime Minister Holness affirmed.
Illustrating existing collaborative efforts, he mentioned the HEART/NSTA Trust’s current partnership with Project STAR in five communities: Rose Gardens and Parade Gardens in downtown Kingston, Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland, May Pen West in Clarendon, and Salt Spring in St James. This partnership is already actively reaching out to unemployed and unattached youth within these communities, demonstrating a proactive approach to addressing youth unemployment through targeted community engagement and skills development programs like the Heart Trust Care Program.
