Group completes parenting program in the Kalinago Territory

On May 18, 2023, 64 individuals received certificates of completion from a parenting program held for members of the Bataca to Concorde communities including Atkinson and Antwizzle.

The program was held from the months of March to May and was spearheaded by the Child Abuse Prevention Unit of the Social Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health, Wellness & Social Services in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment.

Honourable Cozier Frederick, Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency and Minister for Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment encouraged the parents to take the training seriously and to put what they have learned into practice in the lives of their families and community. Honorable Frederick stated that parents must play their part to safeguard children and therefore proper parenting skills are needed in this effort.

Honorable Frederick was very encouraged at the number of individuals who participated in the program especially the number of men who completed it. He expressed that the investment made in the lives of the people of the community is a great one and will be continued throughout the entire Kalinago Territory.

Mrs Sylvanie Burton, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for the Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment encouraged the participants to report cases of child abuse and to build support groups in order to help each other to build better families and thus create a safer community for the children. She advised the men to be trailblazers, to denounce child abuse in the community, and to join in the effort of protecting children at all levels.

Participants of the program also expressed their gratitude for the program. One participant stated “I learned a lot and because of the information presented, it allowed me to understand things in my life that I never knew existed”. Another participant stated that he learned a lot and really enjoyed the program and looks forward to other such programs in the community.

The program covered topics such as Communication in the family, conflict resolution, helping your child succeed in school, Child Abuse: signs and effects and how to protect your child from abuse, roles and responsibilities of parents and children, managing your finances, coping with daily stress and Frustration, domestic violence and positive health habits.

This ceremony brought a close to the parenting program which was held in the different communities in the Kalinago Territory, Atkinson, and Antwizzle, where a total of 160 individuals completed the program; this included 56 men and 104 women.