Vision for the City
To become a resilient and productive Community that has embraced its cultural and spiritual identity, and is on a sustainable path of renewal; whose residents exemplify healthy roles and relationships that contribute to the empowerment of fellow members and the enhancement of the wider society. Vision for the Organization (City Life Ministries)
To be a dynamic organization p
lanted within the heart of the city that expedites the role of the church as an agent of change while facilitating the engagement of key stakeholders in meeting the emotional, spiritual, social and economic needs of the residents. Main Service Areas of Focus
• At-Risk and Unattached Youth: Youth between 14 and 26 who are living in volatile and poverty-stricken communities of Jamaica. These individuals are most at risk for abuse, neglect and initiation into gangs. There is also a high propensity for dropping out of school, low levels of literacy, numeracy and therefore a high rate of unemployment.
• It is this target group that also constitutes the highest rate of deviant behaviour and crime in the City.
• City Life Ministries’ method of engagement is to ‘take the programmes to the people’, and therefore carries out most of its projects in the tenement yards and on the street corners of the community.
• They team members have spent so much time in the everyday life-activities of the residents that strong relationships have been forged along with a deep understanding of the psyche/needs/concerns of the target group. The bonds of trust have prepared the City Life Project team to not only execute City Life projects but to also facilitate the implementation of charitable efforts by other outside agencies and institutions (who do not have the knowledge, experience or relationships with the residents). City Life Garage: Multipurpose Community Centre
Nine years of consistent service and relationship building in the downtown communities of Kingston has led to many generous acts of charity and service by the residents. The most recent and noted one was the donation of a 14,000 sq ft garage by a now elderly business man who spent the last 40 years in the community running a very profitable mechanic shop and garage. On retirement, his desire was to provide a home-base for City Life Ministries to house the many street projects and events that were so impacting and widespread throughout the city. The garage will be turned into a multi-purpose activity center that will not only serve the downtown communities but many inner-city communities across Jamaica. It will be established as a place of refuge, especially for the at risk youth. A center where they will be able to escape from the chaos and challenges of the streets. It will be open 24 hrs and will host a variety of programmes and events that are uplifting, meeting both both spiritual and practical needs.
• 14,000 sq ft
• To be used for (all activities that were/are done on the streets will now have a home)
- Dance classes
- Concerts and Talent Shows
- Worship Services
- Skills Programmes
- Sports: Soccer, Basketball, Volley ball
- Movies
- Children’s Day-camp
- Children’s Home Work Centre
