The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) will launch its Drumming for Peace programme on Tuesday (March 7) to celebrate Peace Day.

Peace Day will be celebrated under the theme “Be the Peace” and the VPA, in collaboration with its partners, will execute a series of activities in celebration of the day including a small private reception, featuring a drumming circle which will be supported by professional musicians who have volunteered to lend their time and expertise to the initiative. 

Professor Elizabeth Ward, chair of the VPA, states that the Drumming for Peace project is an expansion of the Drumming Therapy Project, the latter being part of a collaboration with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) where children in children’s homes operated by the CPFSA, were engaged.

“The Drumming Therapy Project has done very well over the last two years and we think that the initiative would have greater impact if it were expanded; based on this, over the next few months, we will be launching the programme in five new schools,” she informs.

The institutions to be engaged are: Jones Town Primary School, Kingston High and the Kingston YWCA School Leavers Institute; Steer Town Primary and Junior High School in St. Ann and the Salvation Army at Hanbury Home in Manchester.

Meanwhile, Peace and Love in Society in collaboration with Project STAR will stage a Peace Day Concert on the same day at the Calabar Infant, Primary and Junior High School on Sutton Street in Kingston at 9:00 a.m.  Students will have an opportunity to see performances by their peers and learn about peace building skills from peace advocates. 

Ward emphasises that Peace Day offers an opportunity for everyone to unify. “On Peace Day, we encourage you to wear blue and get involved in some activity that symbolizes, enhances and promotes the energy via a drumming circle of your own or related community or work activity,” she said.

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