Peace Gardens in Schools Competition launched to curb violence

/ Our Today

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State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Juliet Cuthbert Flynn (third left), is assisted in planting a tree during Friday’s (September 20) launch of the Peace Gardens in Schools Competition, at Kingston High School. The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Youth and the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA). Observing (from left) are Director of Safety and Security in Schools, Ministry of Education and Youth, Richard Troupe; Chair, Violence Prevention Alliance, Dr Elizabeth Ward; and Kingston High School Principal, Jermaine Luten, and students, Amoy Gibbs and D’Andre Burke. (Photo: JIS/Rudranath Fraser)

The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth launched the Peace Gardens in Schools Competition on Friday.

The initiative will target approximately 100 schools across seven of the ministry’s regions, focusing on institutions experiencing significant levels of violence and those located in vulnerable communities.

Participating schools will compete to create the most impactful and well-maintained safe, clean green spaces, with their efforts being evaluated on specific criteria.

These include environmental stewardship, community involvement, creativity and effectiveness of peace gardens as peaceful spaces.

Members of the Kingston High School Drummers display their talents during Friday’s (September 20) launch of the Peace Gardens in Schools Competition, at the institution. The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Youth and the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA). (Photo: JIS/Rudranath Fraser)

Addressing the competition’s launch at the Kingston High School, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, called for increased focus on conflict resolution to promote peace in schools.

She expressed concern about the incidence of violence occurring among students and urged a more reflective and reasoned approach for settling disagreements.

“It is evident that there has been an upsurge in violence in our schools due to the interpersonal violence often around simple disputes, whether it is in person, online bullying, or gang activity within our schools, or even because of misguided priorities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Director of Safety and Security in Schools in the Education Ministry, Richard Troupe, called for an “all of society” approach to addressing the issue of student violence. “Violence in schools is not just the Ministry of Education’s responsibility, it is all of us,” he maintained.

Marcia Griffiths (second right), former student of Kingston High School and singer waters a tree that was planted to launch the Trees for Peace Competition in observation of International Day of Peace at Kingston High School in Kingston on Friday, September 20. Looking on are Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn (centre); Dr Elizabeth Ward (right), chair of the Violence Prevention Alliance; Jermaine Loutin, principal of Kingston High School and students from the school. (Photo: Contributed)

Noting that the peace gardens competition was demonstrative of the power of partnership, Troupe expressed the hope that “the intended impact will be realised… that is, really promoting peace and harmony among our students and in our schools”.

Schools across Jamaica are being encouraged to participate in the Peace Gardens competition, for which entries close on October 11. Interested institutions are invited to contact the Ministry of Education and Youth or the Violence Prevention Alliance for details.