Aid in Action

Jamaican Anti Trafficking In Persons Project Changing Lives for Vulnerable Youngsters

From selling on the street to a steady job in security

Kingston, Jamaica | Friday, May 08, 2009

Five years ago Verick Harris was a 14 year old surviving by his wits on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. One of many siblings whose father had been killed in an accident, he had been hustling since the age of seven, to help his single mother feed the family.

In 2004 the family moved across the island to Bethel Town, just outside of tourism mecca of Montego Bay. Here Verick heard about the school for vulnerable youngsters operated by the Western Society for Uplifting Children in Montego Bay, and enrolled himself in the classes. Glenda Drummond, Executive Director of the organization, remembers that he used to fall asleep a lot in class at the beginning, a result of his working the streets at nights.

Also, she says, “He was very streetwise – lots of interaction with tourists, had to run from police often. But we discovered that he had extremely strong leadership qualities. Because we realized he was vulnerable for trafficking, we enrolled him in the first Anti TIP Project when it began in July 2004.”

Western Society is one of the partner agencies carrying out the training of vulnerable youngsters 14 – 24 years old in association with People’s Action for Community Transformation (PACT). This ongoing Anti Trafficking in Persons initiative, now in its third stage, is being funded by USAID. Its focus is on prevention, through empowering at risk young persons and raising awareness about human trafficking in the general population.

It was at the first summer camp held by this Montego Bay partner agency, held in Negril, that young Verick’s outstanding potential came to light. He was asked to moderate a discussion entitled “Telling it like it is”, and Mrs. Drummond recalls that he did so well that a lot of valuable information was brought to light about the experiences of the young people taking part.

With counseling, and the life skills and other training offered under the Anti TIP Project, Verick’s progress was dynamic. He changed his hustling schedule from late night to afternoons after school, so he was able to keep awake during the sessions, trained as a Peer Educator, and graduated from the school as well as from the Anti-TIP Project.

Well liked and respected by staff and students, he was hired as a Peer Educator, at which time he was able to give up his hustling completely. After spending a year working with Western Society for Uplifting Children, Verick migrated to St. Lucia to join a friend. There he underwent training and got a job as a security officer with a hotel, where he is still happily employed.

Submitted by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons III  Project