About Us

Welcome to YOVA

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The Youth of Vision Academy (YOVA) is a private Christian boarding school established to provide educational, therapeutic and behavioral services to children and young adolescents in a safe and nurturing environment. YOVA aims to empower, equip, and educate youth to make positive life-changing decisions. Through the development of the physical, mental, social, and spiritual faculties, students are challenged to be respectful, responsible, resourceful, and reciprocal in their relationships. YOVA is an educational institution acknowledged by the Ministry of Education Youth and Information of Jamaica, to operate as an Independent school which abides by the The Regulation Act 1973. YOVA is registered as a non profit entity in Jamaica and in the United States.

Our Mission

To empower, equip, and educate youth to become responsible, respectful, resourceful and reciprocal citizens, impacting positively on the world around them.

Our Vision

The student will leave the school as a responsible, respectful, reciprocal and resourceful citizen. YOVA aims to empower, equip, and educate youth to make positive life-changing decisions.

Our Values

A Christian boarding school that provides support for children and teenagers who find it difficult to function in the traditional school setting.

What we do

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We foster a culture that embraces the ideals of Christ-like discipline. YOVA defines discipline as acts of love to bring those who have deviated from established standards back into alignment with the guiding principles and philosophies that will ensure they are blossoming into the best version of themselves. We encourage students to develop a spiritual identity and have a relationship with their Savior as they traverse the rocky terrains of adolescence.
Children are taught the power and importance of relationships. Throughout their tenure at YOVA, children learn to incorporate important pillars like communication, trust, forgiveness, and hope in relationship building. We believe in bringing about healing and reconciliation among students and their families in a way that will yield eternal results. Our team of experts and faculty are deeply knowledgeable of the specific root causes that are manifested in the observable behaviors of our students. They are thoroughly equipped with the skills that will bring about the positive transformation our students need.
Parents who have struggled to help their children surmount some of the toughest challenges such as: drugs abuse, anger, pathological lying, stealing, truancy, abuse of power, the blatant disregard for rules and boundaries, gang involvement, and academic failure have been able to partner with us in aiding the transformation in children, and together we have succeeded in transforming many lives.
Children are taught the power and importance of relationships. Throughout their tenure at YOVA, children learn to incorporate important pillars like communication, trust, forgiveness, and hope in relationship building.

Management Team

The YOVA management team consists of Directors, Jennifer Alexis Codner, and Noel Reid, who report directly to the Board of Advisors. In addition, we have a team of over 30 qualified professionals who are trained in facilitating change in young people.

Jennifer Alexis-Codner

Jennifer Alexis-Codner

Founder/Director

Ms. Jennifer Alexis Codner is a committed servant leader with a passion for rehabilitating young people for Christ.

Lamar Codner

Lamar Codner

Director

Every day at YOVA, I am blessed with the opportunity of impacting the
lives of young ladies and young men, which is my greatest joy.

Noel Reid

Noel Reid

Director

Mr. Noel Reid has over fifteen years working in reform education. Mr. Reid's lives and breathes his life’s calling to positively impact the lives of behaviorally challenged youth.

Our Volunteers

Our Staff

Reciprocal

Students learn the give-and-take of healthy relationships. They learn to give and receive love and how to be empathetic towards people they encounter from day to day.

Respectful

Students learn to show consideration towards others. Showing respect leads to self-respect and is a stepping stone towards trust and attachment.

Resourceful

Students learn to effectively use skills and intelligence to accomplish a goal. Students need to be taught necessary skills to meet the wide array of challenges life presents.

Responsible

Students learn to be responsible members of the family and society through personal responsibility and being accountable for jobs and tasks assigned to them.