Child Resiliency Programme Kicks Off New School Term with Power Brunch and Training Sessions

Participants in the training session take a group photo following the training.

The Child Resiliency Programme (CRP) leadership team began the new school term with a series of important sensitisation and training activities aimed at strengthening collaboration with schools and preparing facilitators for programme delivery.

On September 11, 2025, the team hosted a Sensitisation and Training “Power Brunch” with principals, guidance counsellors, and Grade 5 teachers from the feeder primary schools to the CRP at Boys’ Town. Schools represented included St Annie’s, Trench Town, Boys’ Town, Edward Seaga, St Alban’s, and Jones Town Primary. The session provided an opportunity to discuss strategies to better support students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Preparations also got underway for CRP operations this term at Boys’ Town, Mountain View Primary, and Holy Family Primary, including an Implementers Training Session held on September 16 for all CRP facilitators.

A special moment during the meeting was the recognition of Ms Denise Reynolds, long-time dance facilitator at Boys’ Town, who was honoured for 10 years of outstanding service to the programme. Ms Reynolds’ dedication and creative contributions have been instrumental in enriching the lives of many children through the performing arts.

Plans are advancing for the delivery of the Peace Building, Resiliency, and Wellness (PRW) Course via Google Classroom this semester through the Peace Institute at the International University of the Caribbean (IUC). The course will be offered to final-year guidance counselling, education, and psychology students, further expanding CRP’s reach in promoting peace education and emotional wellness.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, 60 new families have been referred to the CRP Boys’ Town site from Edward Seaga, Boys’ Town, St Alban’s, Trench Town, St Annie’s, and Jones Town Primary Schools, while 25 new students were referred from Mountain View Primary. The 40 students previously referred from Holy Family Primary in January 2025 have also been contacted to resume participation in the programme.

The 10-week term officially began on September 22, 2025, with baseline evaluation interviews now underway for each referred child. Facilitators continue to use the CRP Operational Guidelines Handbook and PRW Manual as the main training and resource tools.

In addition, the team met with Project STAR to discuss the extension of the CRP contract at Holy Family Primary through the 2025–2026 academic year and with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for a six-month contract beginning in October 2025.

Through these activities and partnerships, the CRP continues to strengthen its mission of building resilience, promoting positive values, and empowering children and families across communities.