The Green Leaf Project
Out of School & In School Youth Programmes (The Greenleaf Project)
Two tracks that keep youth learning—and moving into work.
Through OSY/ISY-LEAP under the Greenleaf Project, Joy Town supports both in-school and out-of-school youth from Trench Town and other inner-city communities with academic help, life skills, employability training, and psychosocial support. Students at Tivoli Gardens High School, and Charlie Smith High School get the extra support to catch up and lead positively, while out-of-school youth build literacy and numeracy, earn certification, and step into real-world experience—including a paid apprenticeship. Without practical pathways like this, too many young people stay stuck—out of school, out of work, and vulnerable to the streets. We teach Godly principles that reinforce purpose and value, and we pair that with structure and opportunity so youth can apply themselves and move forward—building safer communities and a more secure Jamaica.
“Without the HEART training I wouldn’t be in a job right now.” — J. Johnia Knibbs (OSY-LEAP)
What we’re doing
- Provide after-school academic support and life skills for students who are behind in Maths and English and facing behavioural challenges
- Support out-of-school youth with literacy/numeracy catch-up, employability training, and certification pathways
- Deliver life skills and peer influencer training so youth can model conflict resolution and peacebuilding—learning to “fail forward” instead of giving up
- Train teachers in youth-friendly and sports-based youth development approaches
- Provide case management and psychosocial support through a social worker—so challenges don’t become a reason to drop out or fall back
- Strengthen parenting and community capacity to better guide and protect youth
Why it matters
- When young people fall behind academically and emotionally, disengagement and dropout become more likely
- Out-of-school youth need more than motivation—they need skills, certification, and real workplace exposure
- Violence prevention works best when it builds resilience and real alternatives
- Parents, teachers, and community leaders are essential to keeping progress stable
- When youth in Trench Town and other inner-city communities gain stability and employability, Jamaica gains safer communities and a stronger workforce
Strategies / Programme Components
- ISY-LEAP (In-School): after-school Maths & English support; life skills sessions; peer influencer development; teacher workshops; parenting skills training; case management and psychosocial support
- OSY-LEAP (Out-of-School): remedial education to Grade 9 literacy/numeracy; HEART Trust NSTA certification pathways; employability training; life skills; peer influencer development; parenting skills training; case management and psychosocial support; four-week paid apprenticeship after completion
- Community Capacity & Parenting: best-practice sessions for CBOs/CSOs, faith-based groups and leaders; “On the Corner” parenting sessions promoting positive parenting and alternatives to corporal punishment; training in youth-friendly approaches and positive youth development
Impact
- 84 students completed the in-school ISY-LEAP programme
- 65 youth participated in OSY-LEAP, building employability readiness and workforce exposure
- 1,248 parents and community members were introduced to positive parenting techniques through On-the-Corner sessions
- 57 participants from 36 community organisations were trained in youth-friendly approaches and positive youth development
- These outcomes strengthen protective factors in Trench Town and other inner-city communities—supporting Jamaica’s wider goals for safer communities and stronger youth employability
Acknowledgment
- Co-funded by the European Union.
Your help matters
OSY/ISY-LEAP connects young people to the academic catch-up, life skills, wraparound support, and real work-readiness experiences that turn uncertainty into stability and direction. Click Get Involved to choose how to help.
