Jamaica

SOS Children’s Villages ensures that children grow up with the care, protection and relationships they need to become their strongest selves (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica)

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea. With a population of 3 million people, it’s the third most populous English-speaking country in the Americas. Gang violence is a serious issue and Jamaica’s murder rate has been one of the highest in the world for some time now. In 2021, it was 54 per 100,000 inhabitants. Children and young people are in need of protection. For example, Jamaica has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancies among English-speaking countries in the Caribbean.

SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, in Jamaica since 1972.

Children are at risk

Jamaican children living in poverty have limited access to education, health services and social protection. They are faced with high levels of violence at home or in communities from an early age. Girls are more likely to be victims of sexual violence than boys. Due to the difficult social and economic situation, many children lose parental care and are therefore vulnerable to exploitation.
85%
Of children in Jamaica experience violent discipline

Violence against children

Around 85% of children experienced violent discipline in Jamaica. When children are subjected to violence from such an early age, it has a significant impact on their physical and mental health, life and school achievements. Children experience violence at home, school and in the local community, often from family members or people they know and trust. For many, violence is part of their everyday life. Children, young people and families need support so that they can lead a life free from violence.

190,000
Children in Jamaica live in poverty

Children living in poverty

Rural areas of Jamaica tend to have higher poverty rates than cities. Poverty affects many aspects of children’s lives including health and education. Whether children go to school or not is often linked to family circumstance such as the income and educational levels of parents. Families with many children especially struggle to feed their children nutritional foods, this can lead to malnutrition and stunting which affects brain development.

30%
Of all first births were to girls under 17 years old

Young mothers need support

Jamaica has the third highest teen pregnancy rates in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Many adolescent girls don’t have access to sexual reproductive health education or contraception. Pregnancy is one of the main factors for girls dropping out of school. In Jamaica pregnant girls are excluded from attending public educational institutions by law. These girls are in need of special support to help them complete their education while pregnant and learning to be a mother.

Together we can make a difference for children in Jamaica

40
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
60
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
SOS Children’s Villages works to protect the rights and privacy of children. As you may notice, we do not show any identifiable photos of children in general information about Jamaica. This is because we have limited permission from the children and/or their legal guardians (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica).

Working together for sustainable development

In 2015, leaders from 193 countries committed to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 15 year plan aims to improve the lives of people by ending poverty, fighting inequality and protecting the planet.
GOAL 1: End poverty
SOS Children’s Villages supports families and communities to keep families together and to help them break out of the cycle of poverty.
GOAL 4: Ensure quality education for all
Every child and young person SOS Children’s Villages supports has access to education, from kindergarten right up to vocational training or university.
GOAL 8: Equal job opportunities for all
SOS Children’s Villages supports young people in developing the skills and self-confidence they need to find decent work and trains parents so that they can have a stable income.
GOAL 10: Reduce inequalities
SOS Children’s Villages works to keep children safe, by promoting peaceful and inclusive communities. We provide training on children’s rights and positive parenting.
GOAL 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies
We advocate laws and practices that ensure social inclusion and protection for children and young people without parental care or from marginalized households.

Let’s keep on protecting children and young people!

Many children have been able to find a safe and secure home. With your help, we can continue to change their lives