Just over halfway into her year's reign, April Jackson, Miss Jamaica Universe, is using her status to help young girls who have been negatively stereotyped. Her institution of choice is the Glenhope Place of Safety, where she offers 20 girls a better way of life.

"I have the opportunity to help, motivate and assist young people in a unique way. After winning the title, I always had a desire to work with children and although I know that this may be the usual response of beauty queens, for me this is a real deal.

"Even before entering the pageant, I decided that I wanted to positively influence and make a meaningful impact on children's lives. Through the Give the Children a Future Foundation (GCAF), I am doing just that," Jackson said in a press release from Pulse.

Providing counselling

She started GCAF in May with a mission to provide counselling, create learning programmes for the children and to advance the conditions and facilities of various foster homes across Jamaica. She began work with three homes: The Glenhope Girls' Home, Marigold Child Care Centre and the National Children's Home of Jamaica. The homes have specific needs but her vision for them is the same. She would like each child to have better education and access to counselling so that they are able to take their place in society.

The foundation is achieving this by raising funds and encouraging others to get involved. "I also meet with the children personally, participate in various projects with them and serve as a mentor," Jackson disclosed.

"These girls were labelled as bad, but they need our support and I have provided them with journals and encouraged them to write down their daily experiences. For them, writing is a great start," Jackson told Flair.

A former winner of the Miss Jamaica UK title, she recently returned from London, England, where she assisted in judging this year's contest. While there, Jackson also put in some hours with Swift Cash Money Transfer, a company owned by her father. She also participated in the Top Model of Colour show.

Back home, Jackson has also partnered with the Ministry of Education and the Marigold Child Care Centre, with the goal of getting the children to attend school daily. She is happy with the assistance from the ministry in this regard as well as their help with a literacy programme geared at improving the reading skills of the children entering high schools.

After the year's reign, Jackson will return to school in New York where she plans to pursue a master's degree in psychology and law. Upon completion, she will return to the family business. "But I would prefer to be based in Jamaica," she said. Plus, she will be able to do more for charity. So far the United Colours of Benneton, Best Dressed Chicken and Swift Cash Money Transfer, have responded to the call to assist the children.

For the future, Jackson sees herself running her own children's home. "I am really passionate about it; I would love to offer the homeless children a better alternative in life."