Manchester custos’ Beliefs Values and Attitudes initiative creating waves
Published:Tuesday | April 23, 2024 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
CUSTOS OF Manchester Garfield Green’s Beliefs, Values and Attitudes (BVA) initiative has been creating a wave of change in the parish since its launch in December 2021.
The programme, that has the full backing of the Government through its National Parenting Support Commission and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, with support from the Northern Caribbean University, has seen a revival of dialogue on values and attitudes, how Jamaicans perceive themselves, and their behaviour towards each other.
According to Custos Green, it is an initiative that aims to improve the lives of the people of Manchester. “It has been an ongoing effort. We had a youth symposium in November last year and we heard the voices of the young people in the parish. We listened and we are incorporating many of the suggestions from our youth. We have a secretariat that is quite active and we have been keen on ensuring that we meet our objectives,” he said.
Through the BVA initiative, programmes have been facilitated that have offered personal and professional development for young people and parents. There has also been the establishment of uniformed groups in schools in Manchester, with the intent of instilling discipline in the youth.
“Along with targetting young people, schools, the health and transportation sectors, as well as the police, the church and business operators, the programme has key aims of establishing at least one uniformed group in each school across the parish,” Custos Green said.
His underlying concern has been Jamaica’s perennial problem of crime, especially criminal violence. Additionally, there is a high dropout rate in school, as well as the alarming level of unemployment among young people.
Students in Manchester are also being channelled into positive pathways through the ‘Patriotism in Schools’ initiative, which seeks to foster developmental morals and standards and social responsibility among citizens in the parish.
The Beliefs, Values and Attitudes initiative has also started a ‘School’s Peace Ambassador’ programme that has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. Custos Green believes that this is one of the best ways to reach the students.
“The ambassadors are specially trained in mediation, and to identify issues in their schools. They help to instil a spirit of camaraderie among their peers, and to promote values and attitudes in their schools. Our aim is to bring back patriotism in our schools and, by extension, the communities and our society. We would like overall for persons to have a sense of pride – from the infant to the tertiary level,” Custos Green said.
The School’s Peace Ambassador Programme will be officially launched in May across all schools in Manchester.
Through the BVA initiative, the programme will also host a run/walk event on June 9, that will promote the Jamaica Moves initiative of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Proceeds from the initiative will go towards the renal unit of the Mandeville Regional Hospital.
“At the inaugural event, we saw over 500 participants and we were able to hand over $1 million. This year, we would like to double that figure,” Custos Green said.
A manual, he said, has been written so that other institutions and organisations islandwide that are interested can benefit and learn how to re-establish values in attitudes in their communities.
The custos is inviting collaboration on the initiative, noting that, while it is being spearheaded by his office, partnerships are needed to ensure that the transformative goals can be achieved.
“There is hope, people can change. So I am inviting you to help me to create a society of shared core values of social responsibility,” Custos Green added.