OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

It is a mission that must always confront challenges but the man at the helm is determined to succeed. Christian marriage and family therapist, writer, conference speaker and radio talk-show host, Dr Sidney McGill, thinks that not only will he succeed in Jamaica, but the success will spread to other Caribbean islands.

His Coalition in Support of Adolescent Leadership Training (C-SALT) mentoring service was developed in 2002 by the Family Counselling Centre of Jamaica. McGill is executive director. McGill is president of C-SALT.

The programme, based in St Ann's Bay at 6 Windsor Road, began at Ocho Rios High School in St Ann then spread to Marcus Garvey Technical in Brown's Town, St Ann; Godfrey Stewart in Westmoreland, and Calabar High school in St Andrew. The programme was started because McGill wanted to help reverse the worsening crime and violence in Jamaica.

Identity issues

He began to assess boys in high schools to identify those with emotional and behavioural problems and those with 'fairly' high scores would get attention.

A one-year curriculum was developed to deal with identity issues, character development and leadership skills for grade seven students and this has paid some dividends.

"Since then we have seen 65 per cent of participants from Ocho Rios High, Marcus Garvey Technical and Brown's Town high schools showing significant improvement in academic performance and reduction in behavioural problems," McGill reported.

But, according to the doctor, he wants to do more.

He wants to expand the programme into more high schools in St Ann and needs men and women to volunteer six hours per month for one year as mentors.

"We're trying to get concerned citizens together to work with changing the dynamics of violence to one of responsible citizenship in Jamaica. To do that we really need to get to the stage where we're developing strong leadership skills in boys, especially. We need it in boys and girls but at this moment the boys are not performing collectively, as we would like them to," said McGill.

Activities under the C-SALT programme include six one-day workshops for the year featuring character-based skills training done in a novel way.

There is also the EAP (Equine assisted psychotherapy) wherein the boys are taken to a horse farm where psychotherapy is done.

The boys are also involved with mentors in a community setting. A need is identified in the community and the group finds ways and means to fulfil those needs. Currently, because of the shortage of mentors, there are seven boys to one mentor

Another activity is playing football, one team against another.

Currently, funding problems also beset the programme.

If you would like to become a mentor or help the programme in some other way call 972-1805 or 972-7598.

- Carl Gilchrist