Jamaica, I’m planning a trip for me and my husband as an anniversary present and I would like to know more about this country and the struggle they face.
Challenges children in Jamaica face are identified by the struggle that deeply affects them by the violence that is a part of their daily existence. Some of the challenges include exposure to sex, to being shot at; being robbed, and being a victim of violence due to the loss of a family member or close friend to murder. These experiences traumatized these children so bad that they cried, while others whimpered quietly or were unnaturally withdrawn as well as students telling stories of their fears sketched in their drawings illustrating stick figures holding and shooting guns, children armed with weapons, portraits of their parents, siblings and grandparents dying by gunfire.
Intervention strategies to reduce children's exposure to violence should include community education on the impact of exposure to violence on children, particularly the loss of a significant person, and the development of a range of school-based violence prevention programs. The thought of the teachers doing praises dances in the classroom, to help children cope with the fear of violence is a great success. The children are able to open and express themselves spiritually.
As an educator, we are good at guiding, leading, loving and showing children that it is okay to open up and express themselves. If they see us do it, they will be inspired.
Reference:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.
Tree of love
This was a gift given to me on my last day of student teaching in Leesburg, Ga by the students and my master teacher in May of 2010. I treasure this gift because it reminds me of the passion and the ambition they felt for me.
It is sad that children are witnesses to so many acts o violence in their lives. This diminishes the wonder and beauty of childhood. It is great that teachers are doing so much to help these children deal with and make sense of what they are experiencing - but it would be so much greater if they didn't have to have these experiences at all.
ReplyDeleteTanya,
ReplyDeleteI never thought of teachers doing praises dances in the classroom. That is a wonderful Idea! You know what else??? Bringing back prayer! What a wonderful combination that would be to combat violence and anything else the enemy throws at our children!
Tanya -- The thought of children bearing witness to so much violence always saddens me. The fact that is so common is truly unfortunate. I know there are many children in the US with similar situations. I grew up in a high violent neighborhood and by the grace of God I was able to make it out unharmed. Unfortunately many of my friends did not. My mother sheltered me from much of the violence, but I often wonder how I would have turned out if I saw and went through much of what my peers had endured.
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