As part of its Peace Day celebrations, the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) expanded its drumming programme ‘Drumming for Peace’ to five additional schools.
Dr. Elizabeth Ward, chair of the VPA, stated that the Drumming for Peace project is an expansion of the Drumming Therapy Project, the latter being part of a collaboration with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) where children in children’s homes operated by the CPFSA, were engaged.
“The Drumming Therapy Project has done very well over the last two years and we think that the initiative would have greater impact if it were expanded; based on this, over the next few months, we will be launching the programme in five new schools,” she informed. The institutions to be engaged are: Jones Town Primary School, Kingston High and the Kingston Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) School Leavers Institute, Steer Town Primary and Junior High School in St. Ann and the Salvation Army at Hanbury Home in Manchester.
The launched of the expansion took place at the Kingston YWCA on South Camp Road on Tuesday, March 7. The day’s activities included a small private reception, featuring a drumming circle which was supported by professional musicians who have volunteered to lend their time and expertise to the initiative.
Meanwhile, for other Peace Day activities, Peace and Love in Society in collaboration with Project STAR staged a Peace Day Concert on the same day at the Calabar Infant, Primary and Junior High School on Sutton Street in Kingston.