Uplifting adolescents project : a project assessment

The evaluation team found a range of outcomes, depending largely on the capacity of the implementing NGOs. While most lack the ability to do their own monitoring and evaluation of results, a number have gone to great lengths to provide ongoing and reliable services to the at-risk youth who are the project"s beneficiaries. To date, some 15,100 of the latter have been registered in the regular at-risk and special populations (pregnant girls, learning disabled, etc.) programs, exceeding the project target of 11,000. The NGOs have registered 12,688 regular at-risk adolescents, well above the project target of 9,300. In the special populations category, some 2,412 adolescents have been registered, against a target of 1,700. More general findings included the following: (1) The diversity and flexibility of the program to meet a variety of needs is considered a program strength. (2) Participating NGOs credit Development Associates with providing them expert guidance and support throughout the grant period. Most feel that the project has helped them provide better services and improved their administrative and financial management skills. They also consider the training provided through UAP to be extremely useful and appropriate to the context of program needs. However, training needs still exist. (3) NGOs are convinced of the efficacy of JAMAL-based literacy and numeracy methodologies and are assisting a number of youth to re-enter the formal education system, but are still weak in reporting on impact. (4) Youth beneficiaries perceive the program to be beneficial, providing services they need to succeed. The NGOs" UAP programs are not yet self-sustainable either financially or administratively/managerially, and varying levels of capacities exist among the NGOs. Most programs have severe constraints to extending UAP efforts: lack of physical structure and space; limited time-of-day available for program; and limited administrative staff support. (5) There is a national lack of available vocational skills training for youths aged 15-16. For these youths, most NGOs seek local business apprenticeship linkages (outside Kingston) on an individual youth basis. (6) Networking among NGOs remains very weak; networking abilities with other donors varies greatly among NGOs. (7) Operations research has not yet yielded useful conclusions. Five projects were started; one was terminated; one is completed and will be presented on March 29; and three are pending. (8) The most appropriate ministry for the program to collaborate with is the Ministry of Education and Culture. (9) The program could benefit from increased national visibility and advocacy. (10) UAP teachers and service providers would like assistance in identifying youth with special needs. (11) Policy documents were produced out of the counterpart with the Youth Unit of the Ministry of Local Government, Youth, and Community Development, but the future potential of this unit for at-risk youth policy planning is questionable. Overall, UAP is meeting and exceeding its targets and meeting the needs of at-risk adolescents. However, the project is reaching, by some estimates, perhaps only one-tenth of the total population of at-risk youth in Jamaica. In order to address this problem and to serve the target population even better, the report provides recommendations to continue programs and practices that are producing results as well as suggestions about how to maximize some of the potential within the NGOs and the island itself.