Gooden of Chalky Hill Primary and Infant School in St Ann. They are winners of the four to five year old category. Meanwhile, the winners of the 6 to 12 year old category are: Christopher Laraque of Old Harbour High School in St Catherine, who was placed first; second place winner is Alecia Hall of Sunbury Primary School in Clarendon and Ajanni
The Peace Guardian Journey to Harmony - Light the Passion, Share the Dream (Beijing 2008 Olympics)
Volume 5 Issue : January – March 2022
Children Offer VPA Solutions to Nurture On How Greater Peace Peacebuilding CanPeace’ Be Achieved ininTheir 2022 Communities VPA Launches ‘Creatives for in Work Inner-City Communities The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) Several children have offered has teamed up Theatre suggestions on with how Sistren peace can Collective, Groots Jamaica, Island be achieved in their communiCoffees and peace ambassadors to ties through peace letters that launch ‘Creatives For Peace’, an initiawerethat written in observation of tive will enable young people to International Peace Day in Sepbecome positive community influenctember ers and in role a competition models for their that peers was and the young generation the organised by the Violence through Precreative arts. (VPA), the Minisvention Alliance try of Education, Youth and InforThe initiative was launched on Thursmation and the24Early Childhood day, February at the Victoria Pier in Kingston. Creatives for Peace will facilCommission . itate a space where young talents can be These talents will be in Theshowcased. winners of the competition the hosting,from dancing, are:areas ZorianofDouglas Holly-singing poetry, drama and players of instruwood Basic School in St. Ann ments. Elizabeth Ward, who wasProfessor placed first; Akaysia chair of theofVPA said Primary that the and initiative Northover Hillside Infant School in St Mary who is the second place winner and third place winner, Abby-Gail
Valdon Vassell, aka 'Double V' performs a piece at the launch of 'Creatives For Peace' .
was conceptualized to engage young people in a positive way through the arts. “Over the last two years the pandemic has weighed heavily on us and even so for our young people. This initiative will harness the positive energy of our young people and tap
into their creativity to bring forth messages that can be used to influence others,” she explained. The initiative targets - communities such as: Trench Town, Allman Town, Fletchers Land, Drewsland, Seaview Gardens in Kingston; in Portmore, St. Catherine the communities of Newland, Lime Tree and Lakes Pen. There are also plans to extend the initiative later on in Mount Salem, Montego Bay. Young persons, ages 10 to 24 years old will be engaged under the initiative. Persons are invited to get involved by submitting their talent piece along with a brief personal information to Whatsapp at 876-261-4052 or email to creatives4peace@gmail.com .
IUC Establishes Peace Institute and Extended Learning Centre
The International University of the Caribbean (IUC) officially established its Peace Institute and Extended Learning Centre, at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston on March17.
Inside this issue: CARIMAN and PPC Launch Affirming Fatherhood Project
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Volunteerism Can Turn Around Lives, Says Paul Sully
2
CRP at Boys Town and Red Hills Primary to Serve as Research and Practicum for University Students
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Peace Innovators Benefit From
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Capacity Peace Building Photo Highlights of the Launch of ‘Creatives for Peace’
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Drum Therapy Expands to West Haven Children’s Home
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The objectives of the IUC Peace Institute are to develop quality research methodologies; strengthen the peace resiliency of children and youth, women and men, families and communities; influence the shaping of public policies; respond to gender-based violence through research into family violence; address violence in the virtual commu- Dr Deanna Ashley, Executive Director of the VPA nities, and build partnerships for partners and institutions to peace. build credible values. One “This Peace Institute is engaged in such partnership he said was with the VPA, which he research, critical to the life of any university, in advocacy activities. We said is of strategic importance. are seeking to build strong and peaceful communities. What a time “We need to network in this for us to be launching when at a peace building, we can’t do time our world is in crisis,” said it alone. Our connectivity Professor Roderick Hewitt Presiwith the church is vital bedent, IUC. cause the church is front Professor Hewitt further noted that line peace builders in terms the Institute will be working with key of the understanding of the
gospel,” he pointed out. Dr Deanna Ashley, executive director of the VPA in bringing greetings commended the organisation for establishing the institute. “We welcome the opportunity to continue this collaboration with the IUC and the Peace Institute as you conduct research and train students in peace building by building capacity of students to implement interventions that will bring about positive changes in how our children and how others socialize and how people resolve disagreements,” she said. The VPA executive director said that the work from the Institute will assist in curbing the culture and epidemic of violence.