Learning for Life Programme

     The Violence Prevention Alliance in collaboration with the Healthy Lifestyles project of the Ministry of Health began implementing the Learning for Life Programme in violence- torn communities where there were facilities such as community centers, which had computers. The programme targets unattached corner youth’s aged13 – 25 from these communities. Its aim is to capture the attention and interest of unattached youths and assist in developing their literacy skills to the point where they become functionally literate In addition, the programme also provides training in conflict management, leadership and life skills, as well as facilitates linkages to entrepreneurial and job/placement opportunities and other entities for skills training such as the Human Employment  and Resource Training Trust National Training Agency (HEART Trust/NTA) and other vocational institutions. This holistic approach seeks to develop these individuals through an improved knowledge base, marketable skills and inculcate positive values and attitudes that are necessary to help them find alternatives to violence and become worthwhile citizens.

    The Programme uses computer software that provides an individualized and highly effectively scalable literacy intervention solution designed to help struggling students of all ages and abilities to master the fundamental skills of reading. The auto-skills use a research approach that is proven to generate significant and sustainable gains for at-risk students of all ages. Currently, there are 6 functional centers with over a 100 enrolled students.

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Photo/Digital Summer Workshop

The Healthy Lifestyle Project of the Ministry of Health, the Violence Prevention Alliance among others has once again spearheaded the Photo/Digital Summer Workshop from July 16th to August 17th of this year under the same theme “to shoot or not to shoot…..click is the answer”. This year’s workshop was more multifaceted as not only was photography skills taught but there equal importance was placed on life skills sessions.

The partners of CLICK are Super Plus, Healthy Lifestyle Project of the Ministry of Health, Violence Prevention Alliance and the Peace Management Initiative. Associates sponsors are Juici Patties, Burger King, National Bakery, Jamaica Beverages Ltd., Wisynco, Pepsi, the UWI Labs of the Social Science and Chemistry Departments, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, Lascelles, Digicel, Jamaica Producers, Pepsi, Red Stripe, National Bakery and Devon House.

The exhibition was held over a week.  Proceed of sale goes towards participants School fees.  

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Annual Peace Campaign

   Since 2005, the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has partnered with Peace and Love in Society (PALS) formerly Peace and Love in School as a means to strengthen and expand the peace movement in Jamaica.  Since then, this activity has been born into a calendar event and has galvanized agencies such as the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Peace Management Initiative (PMI), UNICEF, Ministry of Education and several NGOs who are committed to the cause.   The main purpose for a peace campaign is to create an awareness and a movement for peace, as Prof. Barry Chevannes, Chairman of the VPA stated, ‘there is a peace movement in Jamaica, but it remains virtual, everyone is for peace, and many are the peace workers, but nowhere is this fact allowed to be manifest itself’.  Hence, the annual peace campaign sought to bring together all agencies, stakeholders and individuals working for peace to give a tangible manifestation of the strength of the peace movement.  It is also a time for communities to bridge the divide and work together for one common cause.   

Main Aim:

1. To galvanize a peace movement in Jamaica
2. To promote the message of peace and the prevention of violence if individuals, families, communities and Jamaica is to develop and prosper (social, economic etc)
3. To build partnerships especially at the community level and with the private and NGO sectors.
4. To share information on the costs of violence and promote approaches to violence prevention

 Target Groups

1. Communities
2. Churches
3. Schools
4. NGOs
5. Private Sector

Key Organizers: Violence Prevention Alliance, Healthy Lifestyle Project/Ministry of Health, Peace and Love in Society/ Ministry of Education, Peace Management Initiative/ Jamaica Constabulary Force and UNICEF. For Pictures click here