Malta, in partnership with the D&G Foundation, executed a conflict resolution workshop for 30 male students in grades 9 – 11 at the B.B Coke High School in St Elizabeth. 

The workshop was part of the entities’ plan to commemorate International Men’s Day, embodying the commitment to help ensure that no male is abandoned or excluded, especially in challenging or dangerous situations.

Led by Shawn Ashman, CEO of Art of Motivation Inc., the exercise aimed to utilise art as a therapeutic tool while also serving as a source of inspiration and motivation to encourage young men to focus on positivity and embrace the probability of making mistakes while journeying through life.

Ashman, in expressing delight with watching the young men connect with art, said: “The boys came to the session very curious as to what we would be doing, and after a while, you began to see the energy shift in the room as they began working together and collaborating on pieces.”

Each student was tasked with drawing a sailboat, and each of them created something unique, something Ashman calls a testament to how important it is for young men to embrace the distinctiveness of their individuality.

Ninth-grade student Jahvaughn Samuels recalled how the session truly helped to shift his perspective on life and its varying challenges. He said, “I really loved being a part of the session, it was very calming and I loved collaborating with my schoolmates to create our art piece. I learned a lot through the process of creating it. I think my biggest takeaway is trusting the process, believing in yourself, and having faith in God.”

Cavell Robinson, assistant brand manager of Malta, was pleased at the outcome and its alignment with the brand’s ethos.

She said: “We really wanted to do something different yet impactful for the young men. Our hope is that through this session, in keeping with D&G Foundation’s ‘No Male Left Behind’ campaign, we wanted to help men understand their emotions a bit more through art. Oftentimes, it is when young men have a hard time managing their emotions that conflicts tend to arise. We are grateful to have partnered with B.B Coke and we definitely want to do more of these sessions in the future.” 

Liteashia Gallimore, acting principal of the B.B. Coke High School, in expressing gratitude for the session, said: “We are delighted with the programme of Malta and the D&G Foundation. I could see that the boys appreciated the session. I know that it is something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.” 

“‘No Male Left Behind’ is something that we as a country need to embrace and champion across Jamaica. As a school, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Malta and the D&G Foundation, and I hope that we can continue to partner with them going forward,” she added.