Dr. Deanna Ashley, Executive Director - Violence Prevention Alliance
The New Year is the perfect opportunity to appreciate all the good things that the past year has given and all the good things that are yet to come. We at the VPA had a successful 2022 as we pursued programmes and projects that impacted many persons at the community level.
One such initiative was the training of a group of young men from the communities of Whitfield Town and Trench Town to improve their income earning capabilities and reduce their involvement in gang related activities.
Some 20 representatives from the Peace Innovators and the Trench Town Community Development Committee (CDC) benefited from a capacity peace building programme organised by the VPA through the Community Advancement for Peace Project.
The Child Resiliency Programme expanded its programme to train university students, community leaders and professionals in Peace Resiliency and Wellness (PRW).
We teamed up with Sistren Theatre Collective, Groots Jamaica, Island Coffees Ltd and peace ambassadors to launch ‘Creatives For Peace’, an initiative that will enable young people to become positive community influencers and role models for their peers and the young generation through the creative arts.
The year also saw us celebrating the 25th anniversary of our alliance member, Children First Agency, which has been offering social, educational and training programmes for young people.
As we welcome 2023, with our vision for sustained peace building, the VPA will continue to share an evidence-based public health approach to target the risk factors leading to violence.