KINGSTON, Jamaica- Schools across Jamaica have until October 31 to submit applications for the Trees for Peace Competition, an initiative spearheaded by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth.

This national competition encourages schools to develop Peace Gardens, safe and clean green spaces aimed at fostering peace, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. Schools will be judged on their ability to create impactful, well-maintained gardens, with criteria including creativity, environmental awareness, and the gardens’ effectiveness as peaceful spaces for reflection and conflict resolution.

Dr Elizabeth Ward, chair of the VPA, urges school administrations to submit their applications online by visiting the following link: https://forms.gle/W8KvmtePwH7NEfhq5 or by accessing the VPA’s social media platforms at vpajamaica.

The initiative targets approximately 100 schools, focusing on institutions in high-risk or vulnerable communities across all seven educational regions.

The Safety and Security in Schools Unit of the Ministry of Education and Youth will play a pivotal role in coordinating and monitoring the initiative’s progress.

In addition to support from the ministry, the Early Childhood Commission will integrate the initiative into its School-Wide Positive Behaviour Intervention Support (SWPBIS) framework. Other key units involved include guidance and counselling, health and family life education, deans of discipline, and restorative justice.

The initiative is further strengthened by partnerships with the Ministry of National Security, which will deploy School Resource Officers to participating schools and facilitate activities related to trafficking-in-persons and small arms control.

The Forestry Department, the National Environment and Planning Agency and Jamaica 4-H Clubs are also contributing by providing seedlings and technical assistance for the gardens, supported by the non-profit Trees that Feed.

Since its launch in 2018, the Trees for Peace initiative has engaged over 100 schools in creating Peace Gardens that not only promote environmental conservation but also serve as sanctuaries for peacebuilding.

The 2024 edition aims to build on this success through enhanced partnerships and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.

The 2024 competition was officially launched last month at Kingston High School in celebration of the International Day of Peace, observed under the theme: ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace.’