Shared Hope International (SHI) has partnered with the Theodora Project of the United Church of Negril, and with generous funding from Soroptimist International of Stuart, is currently building a Village of Hope in the area of Negril. The Village of Hope will provide a safe place for at-risk and commercially sexually exploited girls.
Negril is especially impacted by sex tourism which thrives in this tropical vacation environment. Many youth are pulled into the commercial sex markets to financially provide for themselves, and often their entire family. This has resulted in a high number of youth who cannot continue with traditional education and become more likely to remain susceptible to the commercial sex markets as adults.
SHI has funded the construction of the new Theodora Project Computer Centre, a stable place to train students for independent living. Soroptimist International of Stuart supplied the center with new computer equipment that will provide students with a marketable education. The Computer Centre will house a government certified computer training program and will provide sexually exploited and at-risk youth with critical skills for employment in today’s market. Students will have the opportunity to live at "Theodora's Place" while they complete their vocational training.
Construction of these vital projects is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in October 2008.
SHI has partnered with another organization to serve women and girls on west side of the island. With initial funds awarded by the U.S. State Department, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, SHI supports a local non-governmental organization called Vision Makers. SHI’s funding has provided the refurbishment of the Hebron House, a place of refuge and shelter for sexually exploited girls. Many of these girls are pregnant so home-like shelter is necessary as they complete vocational training and become self-sufficient mothers. The funds provided by Shared Hope International have brought the Hebron House to a clean and positive condition and has enabled the restoration of these young victims.
SHI will continue to privately support the Hebron House to ensure a safe place for young mothers and their babies to live while supporting the continued restoration of prostituted women and children in Jamaica.
Support of the Jamaica Village of Hope and of vocational training programs like the Theodora Project Computer Center will break the cycle of enslavement in the commercial sex market and present an alternative for many young people.
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