COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZE FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION
NASSAU, Bahamas, February 29, 2024 (BIS) — The Bahamas Crisis Centre will visit 17 public primary schools starting in early March with a team of over 100 volunteers to engage 3,000 grade four and five students in an innovative peace initiative.
It is the first activity in a semester-long, anti-violence Green Ribbon Campaign to promote peace.
With a focus on the core values of kindness, respect and courage, the students will participate in an interactive workshop designed to teach them how to activate their innate superpowers and inspire them to become champions of peace.
The Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training approved the class time for the students to participate in the workshop. This was confirmed by the Hon Glenys Hanna-Martin, the minister, who threw her support behind The Crisis Centre and its partners during a press conference on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
“We are all concerned about the level of violence in the country. Our young people are exposed to so much violence in their homes, communities and schools, it is robbing them of their physical safety, emotional well-being, healthy development, education opportunities and long-term success,” said Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson, Director, of The Bahamas Crisis Centre.
“Globally the epidemic of youth violence has also been identified as a crisis in the mental health of young people. The Crisis Centre approached The Director of Education with the proposal to take our Green Ribbon Campaign into the primary school classrooms to name the behaviours we want to see the children model and teach the students how they can be agents of positive change,” said Dr Patterson.
Over the past four weeks, the Crisis Centre hosted a series of train-the-trainer workshops with volunteers from 14 partner organisations, including Zonta, Toastmasters, Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, Kiwanis Clubs of The Bahamas, the Medical Association of The Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas School Violence Unit and others. Starting March 5, for 4 weeks, the group of over 100+ volunteers will simultaneously take over the classrooms in 17 public schools for the interactive sessions that include role-plays, discussions and other activities.
“The objective is to shift the mindset of our young people around three specific core values that quite literally have the power to save a life, and to inspire young people to practice more acts of kindness, respect and courage,” said Noelle Nicolls, Champion of Peace Curriculum Co-developer. Ms. Nicolls along with Rowena Poitier, Director of The Bahamas Artist Movement (BAM), developed the workshop that Crisis Centre volunteers will be taking into the schools.
“We have to combat the culture that gives rise to so many acts of violence in our society by empowering our young people. In our culture, disrespect is a way of life; anger and aggression rules; and courage is only celebrated when it means being man enough to fight. We want to model a different way and empower our children to create peace within themselves and in their communities,” said Ms Nicolls.
Following the workshops, students will be able to enter an essay, poem, logo and TikTok competition to depict their understanding of the core values. They will also be able to enter a “Champions for Peace” Challenge, for an opportunity to be recognized at the end of the year. Students will all receive green bracelets and green ribbons symbolizing their commitment to peace in the schools.
An activity for parents is also being planned for the International Day of the Family in May, along with the creation of peace gardens in the participating schools.
A major component of the Campaign is the establishment of Peace Gardens in the schools that can accommodate such gardens. We are making an appeal to garden clubs, nurseries and Horticultural Organizations for their help and partnership.
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE
The Ministry of Education, Zonta, Toastmasters, Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, Kiwanis Clubs of The Bahamas, Medical Association of The Bahamas, The Social Light Media (Anastarcia Palacious). Public Domain, National Drug Council, Hands for Hunger. Royal Bahamas School Violence Unit, Bahamas Artist Movement (BAM), Anglican Family Violence Ministry, Garden Clubs/Horticultural Organizations & Nurseries, Ministry of Agriculture, Creative Nassau and Ministry of Health and Wellness.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS INCLUDE
Thelma Gibson, Sandilands Primary, Claridge Primary, Uriah McPhee Primary, Centerville Primary, Stephen Dillet Primary, Albury Sayle Primary, E.P. Roberts Primary, Ridgeland Primary, Stapleton Primary, Columbus Primary, T.G. Glover Primary, Gambier Primary, Woodcock Primary, Gerald Cash Primary, Yellow Elder Primary, and Cleveland Eneas Primary
