Projects

A-STREAM Programme

The A-STREAM Programme (Advancement of Secondary/Tertiary/Remedial Education for Adolescent Mothers) was developed to increase the number of adolescent mothers who complete their secondary education after reintegration. The objectives of the A-STREAM Programme resonate with research findings that the completion of secondary education is facilitated by: psycho-social and financial support; resilience; self motivation; and a delayed 2nd pregnancy (Simpson, 2010).

The objectives of the A-STREAM Programme:

• Facilitate the completion of secondary education
• Address the psycho-social needs of the adolescent mothers who are reintegrated into the
  formal school system
• Cultivate a sense of resilience
• Enable the pursuit of tertiary level education

The Programme comprises three major components:

1. Mentorship: Forty adolescent mothers to be reintegrated into the formal school system will each be provided with a mentor who will “walk” beside the girls until they have completed their secondary education.
2. Sponsorship: Forty (40) adolescent mothers to be reintegrated into the formal school system will each be provided with bursaries of $40,000.00 with which to cover their school expenses: uniforms; fees; books; lunch; transportation.
3. Scholarship: Four (4) alumni who have matriculated for tertiary education, will each receive scholarships of $140,000.00.

Partnership

Although the A-STREAM Programme was designed by the WCJF, it will be delivered in partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation over a three year period. Every year, we intend to raise funds for this programme. If you’d like to be an A-STREAM mentor, please register, here.

WCJF Documentary

The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation is producing a documentary that will feature the stories of adolescent mothers, and their struggles as a young mother. The objective of the film is to educate the public on issues surrounding adolescent pregnancy in Jamaica, but overall galvanize the nation, and demand change. The WCJF is looking for past students, offsprings, baby fathers, parents of adolescent mothers etc. to contribute to the documentary.

Partnerships for Sustainability

The WCJF embraces the worth of strategic partnerships in the delivery of its mission and mandate. The Foundation invites the assistance of national and international partners in its infracstructural expansion and improvement thrust.