Executive Director of RISE Life Management Services, Sonita Morin-Abrahams, says the non-governmental organisation is struggling to stay afloat.

RISE, formerly the Addiction Alert Organisation, has been providing drug abuse and violence prevention, remedial education and health-related services to Jamaicans mainly living in the inner-city communities of Kingston for nearly 20 years.

The group also offers a violence-prevention community programme for over 1,000 individuals from the communities of Allman Town, Fletchers Land, Southside, Tell Aviv, Towerhill, Drewsland and Waterhouse. Additionally, it responds to more than 1,000 calls a year through its national telephone lifeline service.

scaled-down services

However, as Morin-Abrahams told The Gleaner recently, a reduction in funding has forced the organisation to scale down its services.

She said for the past five years, RISE had engaged over 250 high-risk adolescents in a remedial education and life-management skills intervention programme through funding provided by the International Development Bank and the Govern-ment of Jamaica.

However, since April 30, funding for this programme has been significantly reduced, resulting in its suspension.

Morin-Abrahams further said the organisation had been operating at a yearly deficit of approximately $5 million and was now desperately seeking assistance to close the gap.

The executive director was, however, adamant that the organisation would not close its doors or turn its back on the thousands in need of assistance. "That's not an option," she said. "When you work with community people, (particularly) underserved populations, it takes you a long time to build up trust. Because we have been with them now for five years, there is a lot of trust. If we just walk away now, that trust would be gone and a lot of them will fall back," she explained.

appeal for corporate support

Morin-Abrahams is, therefore, making an appeal to corporate Jamaica, government agencies, as well as Jamaicans living in the diaspora for assistance to keep RISE programmes active.

"I want to make an appeal to Jamaicans living abroad who want to give back to their community to come on board. RISE is a worthy cause, we are transparent, and they will know exactly how their money is being spent," she said.

Morin-Abrahams was confident that if at least 10 Jamaican companies were to pledge their support in a particular area - taking over a community project or making a donation - then this could significantly reduce the organisation's problems.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com

RISE also offers services for addictive disorders including:

Assessments, referrals, drug testing, family interventions, individual and family counselling, relapse prevention and after-care services.

Adult literacy and CXC classes

Parenting training workshops

Community-corner counselling for out-of-school youth and at-risk adult males.

How can you assist?

Individual/company donations - commit to contribute an amount ($50, 000-$250,000) yearly for three to five years to ensure sustainability for RISE and its community interventions.

Give to the organisation's endowment fund (anything over $250,000) goes to this perpetual fund.

Sponsor a community project

email: riselife2@yahoo.com or call 967-3777.