IN observation of International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21 worldwide, Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth and other partners, launched Peace Gardens and drumming activities in schools across Jamaica to foster peace and environmental stewardship.

The launch took place on Friday at Kingston High School.

Dr Elizabeth Ward, chair of VPA, said that Jamaica faces significant challenges related to crime and violence, which, in recent times, have spilled over into the schools, resulting in an adverse effect on the children and school environments.

Referring to statistics from the education ministry, she said that over a 12-month period (January 2022 to 2023), 55 critical incidents involving violence were reported across 50 different schools, which has highlighted the severity of the situation.

“These incidents ranged from gang violence and physical assaults to robberies and other disruptive behaviours. The prevalence of such violence interrupts learning, negatively impacts students and educators, and poses a significant threat to the broader community’s well-being,” she said.

Ward underscored that the initiative aims to address issues around areas within the local landscape, including all types of violence, prevalence and use of small arms, and trafficking in person, all contributing to violence and instability.

The initiative will be implemented in the form of a national competition, encouraging schools across Jamaica to participate in the development of peace gardens. The competition opened on September 20 and will close on October 11. Schools will compete to create the most impactful and well-maintained safe, clean green spaces, with their efforts being evaluated on criteria such as environmental stewardship, community involvement, creativity, and the effectiveness of the gardens as peaceful spaces. This competitive element has spurred greater engagement, driving schools to continuously improve their gardens and the associated peace-building activities, she explained.

The initiative will target approximately 100 schools across all seven regions of the Ministry of Education and Youth, focusing on institutions with higher rates of violence or those located in vulnerable communities. The Safety and Security in Schools Unit of the ministry will play a critical role in coordinating efforts and monitoring progress.

The Ministry of Education and Youth and the Early Childhood Commission will provide institutional support and integrate the initiative into the School-wide Positive Behaviour Intervention Support framework, along with incorporating the following units: guidance and counselling, health and family life education, deans of discipline, and restorative justice.

Other supporting partners include the Ministry of National Security, Forestry Department, National Environment and Planning Agency, and Jamaica 4H Clubs.

First launched in 2018, the initiative has successfully engaged more than 100 schools in creating peace gardens.