THE National Education Trust (NET) has implemented an initiative aimed at addressing the increasing incidents of fights and verbal conflicts among students across the nation. Along with other partners, NET has created a peace garden at Swallowfield Primary and Infant School on Whitehall Avenue, St Andrew. Work on the project began May 17 and was completed on May 23, Labour Day. The garden was designed to provide a safe space for students to manage their emotions effectively.

The peace garden features various tools to help students deal with anger and disputes, including a punching bag, murals, and other calming elements. This initiative stemmed from observations by the school’s guidance department that both students and parents lacked the necessary skills to resolve conflicts peacefully. The peace garden will serve as a safe haven, offering students a space to vent their frustrations and work on their anger issues constructively.

Jacqueline Bailey, principal, said the peace garden means a great deal to the school and students.

“It provides a much-needed sanctuary where our children can learn to handle conflicts appropriately so that it does not have to resort to violence. This project will undoubtedly make a significant, positive impact on their lives and our school environment,” she said.

In addition to the calming resources, the project also involved minor repairs to the school including painting, landscaping, constructing a box drain, rendering the perimeter wall, and refurbishing the security fence to create a safe and therapeutic environment.

The establishment of the peace garden was a collaborative effort involving several partners who brought valuable resources and expertise to ensure the successful completion of the project.

Latoya Harris-Ghartey, executive director of NET, expressed the organisation’s commitment to fostering a supportive and safe environment for students.

“At NET we are dedicated to nation-building and addressing the needs of our schools across Jamaica. The peace garden at Swallowfield Primary and Infant School is a crucial step in promoting emotional well-being and conflict resolution skills among our children. We are upgrading from a wellness bench to a wellness garden,” she explained.