TO COMMEMORATE Peace Day, which will be observed this year on Tuesday, March 5, Peace and Love in Schools (PALS) in partnership with the Social Conflict and Legal Reform Project (SCLR) will be staging a concert at the Flankers Primary and Junior High School in St. James, in addition to the concert that is traditionally held in Kingston.
According to Mrs. Janille Abrikian, general manager of PALS, this will mark the first time that a Peace Day concert is being held outside of Kingston. "The concert is the highlight of the Peace Day celebrations and this year we are pleased to be working with the SCLR Project, which is an initiative of the governments of Jamaica and Canada, to bring the message of peace to the community through this event," she said. The concert will feature top Jamaican artistes Lloyd Lovindeer, Roy Rayon and writer/actress Adziko Simba, as well as performances from students of the Flankers Primary and Junior High, Corinaldi Primary and the Herbert Morrison High Schools.
In commenting on the project's involvement in the activities, Community Component Co-ordinator at the SCLR, Ms. Sharene McKenzie said, "the entire community is excited that they will be involved in this concert to commemorate Peace Day." She said the event is also being supported by Sandals Montego Bay, an important partner in the implementation of the project, a number of social service organisations as well as students, teachers and parents from Flankers Primary and Junior High School.
In addition to the concert, Peace Day is also marked by a programme of activities that is undertaken in all primary schools beginning in December of the previous year. These activities include exhibits, art and poetry competitions, essay competitions, marches to the community, church services and, "most significantly, awards to peacemakers from within the school community."
This year, the SCLR's collaboration with PALS to stage the Peace Day concert in Flankers, highlights the efforts that are now being facilitated by the Project through its primary partners Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) and PALS to assist Jamaicans, particularly those in the pilot communities of Trench Town and Flankers, to adopt more positive conflict management methods.
The first Peace Day in schools was held in 1996 and its objective is to "create awareness amongst schools and the public that there is need for peace."
