More than 40 children participate in SO-JUST behaviour modification project

However, when she heard that it would be a fun interactive way to spend her time and that at the end of the programme, she would receive a certificate she was happy to take home the consent form to her mother.

Young Baccas was just one of over 20 children from Majesty Gardens who were happy to participate in this joint initiative dubbed SO-JUST Betta Project by Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation and Children First Agency.

The SO-JUST Betta Project sought to assist young people who may have anger or behavioural management issues. Under the programme participants learn creative techniques to navigate their emotions and adapt new and positive methods of coping especially in today’s society where violence is glorified in everything from movies to music and even cartoons.

It is aimed at empowering and sensitizing children in conflict or contact with the law and their families through community interventions, innovative education and awareness initiatives. It is also geared towards community-focused activities designed to increase awareness and referrals for available support services and programmes, namely those provided through the Ministry of Justice’s Child Diversion, Victim Services and Restorative Justice department.

The behaviour modification sessions which ran for a month were held several times weekly in the parishes of  Kingston and St. Andrew as well as St. Catherine and saw over 40 children successfully attend and complete the programme wherein they learned creative ways of resolving conflict while having fun in the process.

For little Davia, she was able to channel her love of the performing arts while learning how to recognise and express emotions and also what are her basic rights as a child.

As she explained it, she enjoyed learning new things without being pressured to do so.

“I learned that I have rights and I also learned that these rights come with responsibilities and how I can become an ambassador for positive change. I really enjoyed coming to the sessions and I also made new friends so overall it was fun for me,” she said.

SO-JUST Project Manager Jovane Blagrove who oversaw the smooth and successful operation of the dual parish programme stated that it was easy to partner with Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation as they too have long been committed to fostering positive social interaction among our youths.

The initiative he added was an ideal one that helped to develop innovative educational and psychosocial lessons that enhanced the capacity of and empower children in conflict or contact with the law.

“We have found that a lot of Jamaicans do not know their basic rights when it comes to contact with the law and so Children First sought to do our part to increase awareness of child rights, court systems, laws, and related information among children and parents and guardians and so we are focusing on Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and Clarendon and taking this information to all the corners a of these three parishes over the coming months,” said Blagrove.