3Cs works in two of the most economically deprived communities in Jamaica: Mandela Terrace near the Three Miles area of Kingston and Spring Village in the Old Harbour district of St. Catherine. Unsafe lifestyle practices contribute to the transmission of HIV and to widespread drug abuse. Females head the majority of households, most of whom receive little or no financial support from the fathers of their children. In addition, the communities themselves have identified the following specific needs and constraints: very high unemployment, lack of skills, or training and opportunities, poor access to formal primary education and high school drop out rate, poor parenting, insalubrious physical environment, inadequate housing and sanitation, low self-esteem because of the stigma attached to living in inner city communities and to HIV, disunity in the community, high crime and violence and high rates of teenage pregnancies.

Through innovative fundraising activities and effective financial management 3Csn has managed to secure sufficient administrative and operational resources for the Mandela Terrace site and is now increasing its focus on securing funding to adequately provide comparable services in Spring Village which happens to be the larger of the two sites in terms of the number of beneficiaries served.

Overall Objectives

The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to Jamaica’s poverty eradication programmes by reducing the spread and mitigating the impact of HIV in marginalised communities and groups in Jamaica. These communities will be empowered to advocate for their rights and to become agents for change both at policy level and in the public domain by directly addressing issues affecting their rights. The project aims to improve the living conditions and quality of life of PLHA and marginalized groups by openly addressing the problems of stigma and discrimination linked to both HIV and AIDS. It is hoped to thereby reduce the problems experienced by marginalised groups in impoverished sectors of Jamaican society.