Tagged: Jamaica

Play Day taking hold in Jamaica

Lifelong learning

By Rebecca Tortello

Play Day taking hold in Jamaica

Play is a movement. Not only that it encourages Jamaican boys and girls to exercise their body and minds – but there is a growing awareness among adults of its importance for child development, and that they can join in too! Like a game of classroom telephone that UNICEF was invited to play with first grade students at Half Way Tree… Read more →←

Hazard Primary taking the danger out of children’s journey to school

Photo of a schoolboy posing against the wall of Hazard Primary School in Clarendon carrying a road safety message for the X Marks The Spot campaign

Lifelong learning

By Ross Sheil

Hazard Primary taking the danger out of children’s journey to school

Educator Heather Lyn drives past Hazard Primary School in Clarendon twice daily, a routine that has been the same for many years. But the other night she felt something different as her car drove over something. “BOOM!” “BOOM!” This was no accident. She’d driven over the brand new rumble strips installed as part of the ‘X… Read more →←

Born into donship, I now live to build peace in my community

Dwight spence violence interruptor Peace Management Initiative (PMI)

Safety and justice

By Dwight Spence

Born into donship, I now live to build peace in my community

Twenty-nine-year-old Dwight Spence is a former teen gang member turned Violence Interrupter and Liaison Officer for UNICEF’s partner the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) in Trench Town, Kingston. Dwight is one of 130 members of the VI team, working in violence-prone communities to intervene with at-risk youth, prevent violent… Read more →←

My father’s murder inspired me to build peace in my community

Rasheed morris peace management initiative pmi violence interruptor

Safety and justice

By Rasheed Morris

My father’s murder inspired me to build peace in my community

At 21 years-old, Rasheed Morris is a Violence Interrupter for UNICEF’s partner the Peace Management Initiative, serving the Kingston community of Hannah Town. He is one of 130 VIs in Jamaica, volunteering in violence-prone communities to intervene with at-risk youth, prevent violent conflicts and mediate flare ups. The work is… Read more →←

Among rape survivors, a tale of sisters 

two sisters sexually abused by stepfathers but are now supported by eve for life

Health promotion

By Allison Brown

Among rape survivors, a tale of sisters 

The energy in the room is light and there is laughter. There are no hints that the young women gathered in this space are anything but ordinary. They are relaxed and open. Until the conversation turns to forgiveness.  The girls suddenly flounder. Smiles give way to knitted brows and slumped shoulders.  Now, the room aches with the… Read more →←

Building Jamaica, one little brain at a time

Tranquility Bay Infant School brain builder centres ecc jamaica

Lifelong learning

By Ross Sheil

Building Jamaica, one little brain at a time

When Marcia Demontagnac-Ormsby enrolled at Tranquility Bay Infant School in rural Portland – where she is now acting Principal – she was just shy of four years old. That’s when many Jamaican children traditionally enter basic school. However, according to science and what we now know about the development of a child’s brain, that… Read more →←

From living in state care to becoming a social worker

Safety and justice

By Karen

From living in state care to becoming a social worker

My mom left me at a bus stop when I was six years old. She just said, “Stay here. Don’t move.” Being an obedient child, I sat and didn’t move. I waited and waited, and eventually I got up and started walking, which was when the police found me. At first I was lucky to go into foster care, but lucky was only until Grade 9 when my… Read more →←

Dear dads, here’s 10 ways you can support breastfeeding

unicef jamaica breastfeeding

Health promotion

By Novia Condell

Dear dads, here’s 10 ways you can support breastfeeding

Breast milk is the best food babies can get during the first six months. However, many babies don’t benefit from this best start in life: on average, women in Jamaica breastfeed exclusively for only about 3 weeks.  In the first 1,000 days of life, a baby’s brain develops the fastest – a process which benefits… Read more →←

‘My mother tells me I’m walking dead because I have HIV’

eve for life Unicef jamaica

Health promotion

By Alicia

‘My mother tells me I’m walking dead because I have HIV’

Young women and girls who are HIV positive are often victims of repeat victimisation. Many were sexually abused as children, and were shunned after trying to name their abusers, who are often family members. For them, stigma against persons living with HIV is one more thing to overcome. Alicia (alias), shares her story below about… Read more →←

Youth & U-Report: Don’t talk about us, without us

christopher harper, u-report, unicef, jamaica

Health promotion

By Christopher Harper

Youth & U-Report: Don’t talk about us, without us

Most – if not all – conversations in Jamaica about youth exclude them from the discussion. Launching U-Report Jamaica recently gave me a “wow” moment:  I realised this is finally a chance for youth to take charge of the narrative and start their own conversations.  More than 1,300 young people have already signed up to become… Read more →←