The National Peace Program (NPP) has rolled out two life-changing initiatives to empower vulnerable youths and help parents strengthen their parenting skills.

Elevate the Peace and the Parent-Wise Community Project were launched on Saturday, at Sandals Royal, Maxwell Road, Christ Church.

And Minister of State in the Office of the Attorney General with responsibility for Crime Prevention, Corey Lane, emphasised the valuable role they will play in assisting the targeted groups.

In speaking about Parent-Wise Community Project, which will provide parental sessions in several selected communities across the island for approximately one year, Mr. Lane said it was extremely important to have this programme guided by those organisations that work with parents.

“I was determined that as we execute this policy, that we are not reinventing the wheel…, but [that we would] go to you who are teaching about parenting well, and ensure we can use the resources of the state…to allow you to scale up the number of parents that you are already working with, … to ensure every parent has the opportunity to be a better parent in this country,” he stated.

Minister Lane indicated that multiple delivery methods would be available so parents with their various schedules would still have access to the information. He identified podcasts, social media, face-to-face, videos, and online presentations as some of the ways parents would receive information.  

The sessions will be facilitated by Men’s Empowerment Network; Ammar Empowerment Network; The Barbados Association for Professional Social Workers; the Caribbean Institute for Social and Emotional Learning; and Parent Education for Development in Barbados. 

Meanwhile, Elevate the Peace will include two main initiatives – Community Pop-Ups and Direct Intervention Clubs, which are aimed at strengthening communities. The Direct Intervention Clubs will give young people an opportunity to participate in training programmes in areas of choice, including barbering, swimming, photography, bartending, and tailoring.

Mr. Lane continued: “These clubs are not only about preventing crime, [but] they are about preventing criminals because these Direct Intervention Clubs are really taking a lot of unattached youths. Youth who are not in any structured programme whatsoever, and giving them good mentorship, activities, and most importantly, positive alternatives to block liming and a life of crime.

“The Elevate the Peace will be launched across the 11 parishes in Barbados, 22 communities to start [the programme] …. We are targeting the most at risk [and] the most vulnerable communities, but we are also giving all other communities an opportunity to be a part of the programme.”

Director of East to West Enterprises, Timothy McClean, added that 15 clubs would be created, including a remedial programme – Bright Stars – for children between the ages of seven and 11, who have difficulties writing and reading. He explained that they will receive remedial classes in Mathematics and English from three specially trained teachers.

Mr. McClean noted that the Community Pop-ups’ objective is to bring back the community spirit by offering people an opportunity to get involved in fun activities, such as dominoes, small bars football, and netball. The first Community Pop-up is expected to be held on May 25. 

“We believe that this method…of engaging directly with the clubs, getting those young people into…an activity, and then going back to the community to build that fellowship [and] that community spirit is one way in which we can help to elevate the peace in Barbados,” he opined. (PR/GIS)