SAHS.360 - Mary Clarke CD, Jamaica's first Children's Advocate

A delightful three-part interview with Mrs. Mary Clarke, Jamaica's first Children's Advocate, a former History and Religious Education (R.E) teacher and parent at St Andrew High School. She received the order of distinction in the rank of commander (CD) in 2011 for her contribution to advancing the rights and best interests of Jamaican children. Before taking up her OCA appointment, Mrs. Clarke was Manager of the Social Development and Gender Unit at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) for 16 years. As part of her portfolio at the PIOJ, she was responsible for children's issues and represented the agency on several committees and meetings on children's issues and provided technical advice in the drafting of the Child Care and Protection Act. In her capacity as Manager of the Social Development and Gender Unit she wrote several papers and published in local and international journals. Prior to her PIOJ post, Mrs. Clarke taught History (Grade 7 up to Grade 13) and Religious Education (for a short period) at St Andrew High School (SAHS) and also at Mannings High School for 18 years combined. Mrs. Clarke is a trained social worker and lectured part-time in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies and is an elder at Grace Missionary Church in St. Andrew. Mary Clarke was born in Manchester, the seventh of nine children to Harold Percival Gibson and Mary Gibson. She is the widow of Justice Neville Clarke (married for 33 years) and mother of three children - 2 sons and 1 daughter -- Dr. Nigel Clarke, attorney-at-law Mr. Dale Clarke and Dr. Tanya Roxanne Clarke (alumna). The now-retired children's advocate enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren. We invite you to post a comment and or share this clip among friends. Enjoy!