ST ANN, Jamaica—Twelve boys aged eight to 10 years at Chalky Hill Primary School in St Ann have shown marked improvement in their behaviour, thanks to an ongoing intervention led by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in partnership with the Sandals Foundation.

Now in its second year, the initiative expanded its reach to the school through the implementation of the Child Resiliency Programme (CRP), reinforcing the partners’ commitment to early intervention and holistic child development.

Jonelle Llewellyn, research associate at the VPA, explained that the CRP model was specifically tailored for at-risk primary school students and delivered through structured after-school sessions. These sessions focused on emotional regulation, communication, and life skills, and were complemented by creative outlets such as football and drumming.

“The programme was designed to promote pro-social behaviour and address early signs of vulnerability among children,” said Llewellyn. “Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to monitor changes in behaviour and attitudes.”

A key component of this year’s success, she noted, was the strategic involvement of parents through focused parenting sessions. These sessions aimed to strengthen parental skills in non-violent discipline and deepen their understanding of child development. This, in turn, fostered healthier parent-child relationships and improved community engagement.

Parents have praised the intervention, reporting positive changes in their children’s behaviour.

Histon Henry, whose eight-year-old son participated, shared, “Before this intervention, I had challenges with him listening to instructions and following rules. Now, he is more obedient and follows instructions.”

His son said he enjoyed the programme, especially playing football and drumming.

Latoya Taylor, another parent, expressed pride in her son’s progress: “He hasn’t been giving much trouble. He even got an award from school for being the most improved student in behaviour.”

Llewellyn said the programme’s success at Chalky Hill Primary has surpassed expectations.

“Not only have we observed measurable improvements in the boys’ behaviour and emotional resilience, but we’ve also seen increased engagement from parents and teachers,” she noted.

“There’s been a notable boost in participation among the students themselves, which speaks directly to our goal of holistic support. We are committed to leaving behind not just results, but a replicable model that works.”

Karen Zacca, director of operations at the Sandals Foundation, said, “At the Sandals Foundation, we believe in creating environments where our youth feel empowered and safe. When we take a community approach that involves their guardians, we are promoting holistic personal development”.

“We are deeply proud of the partnership we have had with VPA and we want to congratulate the young boys who have shown exceptional progress in becoming future stewards of community well-being for Jamaica,” Zacca continued.

As the project enters its final year, the project will shift toward evaluation and sustainability, ensuring that gains in school behaviour, parenting, and youth engagement translate into lasting community impact.