The project adopts a mixed methods, multi-sample data gathering approach – combining the techniques of elite interviews, focus group discussions and surveys across three distinctly different but crucial samples: the “system’s” administrators; current wards of the state about to leave care; and former wards of the state who have left care between three (3) and thirty-six (36) months ago.

The project is headed by Mrs. Rose Robinson-Hall, a stalwart Social Worker and academic.

My involvement in this Project:

• Research design
• Method design
• Quantitative and qualitative computer-assisted data processing and analysis

To learn more about the Review of State Capacity to Prepare Wards for Independent Living project please:

E-MAIL:

• The Project Team: ilpstudyja [at] gmail [dot] com

On a personal note: I believe the joy experienced through embracing the privilege of bearing a child is second only to the pride of seeing a life you have moulded transcend the barriers of “you can”t” and “potential” to achieve self-actualization.

Please – let us take care of our children, they truly are our future… they are our reflections stretched over time.

The Programme spans eighteen (18) months and is poised to train nearly four thousand (4,000) adolescents and their parents in the tenets of financial literacy and entrepreneurial endeavour. In addition to this, the Programme has also undertaken to train sixty (60) teachers and 10 (entreprenuers) on how to impart these same tenets and identify and nurture the behaviours characteristic of an adolescent entrepreneur.

The “I am the CHANGE” programme adopts a mixed methods pedagogy which includes but is not limited to:

• Traditional course material and instruction
• Immersion via a multi-day camp
• Simulation
• Community involvement and interaction

 From the Media:

“Apart from producing young  Jamaicans, who are prepared to enter the labour force and positively impact Jamaica’s economy, the programme also seeks to achieve Jamaica’s 2030 Vision by transforming potential job-seekers into potential job creators.\n\nThe ‘I am the Change’ initiative, targets the six upgraded high schools in rural Jamaica, that fall under the Mutual Building Societies Foundation’s (MBSF) Centres of Excellence programme, which supports the Government’s efforts to transform the education system, by working to improve student achievement, teacher quality, and the organisational efficiency of the selected schools through the provision of technical assistance and financial resources.\n\nThe targeted schools are Mile Gully and Porus High Schools in Manchester, Seaforth High in St. Thomas, McGrath High in St. Catherine, Godfrey Stewart High in Westmoreland, and Green Pond High in St. James.”

- excerpted from: Stern welcomes ”I am the Change” Entreprenuerial Programme, Jamaica Information Service, April 23, 2011 > weblink

My involvement in this Project:

• Concept build-out
• Proposal writing/preparation
• Course material development and delivery
• General administration

To learn more about the “I am the CHANGE” programme please:

CALL:

• The Business Lab: (876) 908-4080
• The Centres of Excellence: (876) 926-1344, ext. 4718

or VISIT:

• The Business Lab’s website
• The Centres of Excellence’s website
• The Centres of Excellence’s Facebook page

Each specialization is under-girded with training in videography, photography, digital design, new media and research. The program excels at producing individuals who are rounded enough to function as an integral part of any production team, but who also specialize in seeing the “whole story” and maximizing the communication channels and available technology within the conceptualization, production and distribution phases of a project.

From the UTECH website:

“This programme is a four year degree course of study. The B.A. in Communication Arts and Technology offers the most comprehensive communication and media training programme locally. The certification you receive will be a University of Technology, Jamaica Bachelor of Arts degree.

The course of study in Communication Arts and Technology is “hardware” intensive. As such it is required that students have the following tools which are vital help to manage the research, design and production tasks in this course of study in the programme:

• a laptop or a desktop at home
• a digital camera”

My involvement in this Programme:

• Lecturer (New Media elements)
• Syllabus creation
• Technology specification
• Digital presence design, deployment and management

To learn more about UTECH’s BA in Communication Arts and Technology, please:

CALL:

• Department of Liberal Studies: (876) 927-6180
• Communication Arts and Technology Division: (876) 970-5818

or EMAIL:

• The Programme Director

  Michelle Stewart-McKoy: mamckoy [at] utech.edu.jm

• The Administrative Support

  Silvia Rose: srose [at] utech.edu.jm