The Rose Garden Parenting Club has been a beacon of hope and support for the local community since its inception last year.

 The club was established by the community with the support of Project STAR.

Tanecia Cole, president of the parenting club, emphasised the importance of the club to the community, stating, “The parenting club is important to us as it facilitates parents coming together as a group. We are able to sit and relate the types of problems we are experiencing and seek guidance and assistance from outside resources. Even having a social worker assist parents in better guiding their kids is invaluable.”

The club has initiated several programmes to support parents. One notable initiative is providing counselling sessions to help parents manage anger and develop better parenting skills. 

Nikona Chinyu, the secretary of the Rose Garden Parenting Club, highlighted the club’s efforts in organising community events and providing support to families in need. 

“We’ve been organising treats for kids and events like bingo for fundraising,” Chinyu said. “We’re also focused on supporting the elderly with necessities…”

Despite challenges, the club is steadily growing. “We have around 20 persons now in the parenting club,” Cole noted. The community’s response has been positive, with more parents seeking advice and support.

Raheim Robinson, a member of the club, highlighted the importance of the education provided at sessions. “It educates young mothers and fathers, helping them to raise their children the right way,” Robinson said. The club has also provided baby necessities to parents in need, which has been a significant help.

The Rose Garden Parenting Club, backed by Project STAR, continues to build a supportive community environment, fostering better parenting and stronger family bonds.

Karen McGlashin, social worker at Project STAR, said the parenting club was established in the space following a “reasoning session” with the community members, in which they shared that parenting skills needed to be strengthened as a matter of priority.

Project STAR has helped with establishing a structure and setting up executive bodies for each club with a president and other officers.

McGlashin said members of the clubs are exposed to parenting sessions organised by Project STAR to improve parenting. She said the residents are informed of the different parenting styles and through discussions, are educated on the best parenting styles and best practices to help raise well-adjusted children.