Children in Communities Hardest Hit by Beryl Learn Life Skills

KINGSTON 19 December 2024 - More than 2,000 students were reached through recovery interventions conducted shortly after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July this year.

The children, who reside in Rocky Point and Portland Cottage in Clarendon and Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, were among 6,000 people who were engaged in a series of activities including family disaster preparedness workshops, mental health fairs, community conversations, psychological support and referral services initiated by UNICEF. 

After the hurricane, assessments were conducted to determine the needs of the communities and community walk and talks were held to arrive at the best possible interventions, one of which was to offer emotional support to students in the area.

UNICEF Representative, Olga Isaza said, “Through UNICEF's recovery programme for the affected population, these students and their families have found a beacon of hope. Our initiative is part of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) established by the United Nations General Assembly to assist recovery and resilient building efforts in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.”

Recently, students from Mitchell Town Primary and Infant School and Galilee Basic School in Rocky Point participated in follow up disaster preparedness sessions facilitated by UNICEF’s partner Eve for Life, a non-governmental organisation.

Nestled along the Caribbean Sea, these communities have been vulnerable to the fury of hurricanes and the children have seen the impact firsthand. Despite the odds, the people of the communities that were lashed by Beryl, embody the spirit of resilience. Theirs is a story of hope, determination, and community. Shrieks and chatter filled the air at the Mitchell Town Primary and Infant School as the school-based life skills workshop got into high gear to equip the children with coping skills and disaster preparedness information. More than 100 students turned out, much to the delight of the school administration. They did earthquake drills in which the students scurried under their desks when a rumbling sound was made and formed a line on the instruction of the Eve for Life facilitator. They also recited the emergency numbers to call, demonstrated how to roll on the ground if their clothes caught fire and knew the items that should be in a disaster preparedness kit.

Another key element of the life skills training was knowing how to calm yourself as there is no shame in being afraid. The children shared the different methods they used to calm their anxieties ranging from sleeping to listening to music, hugging their parents and talking to their friends. The facilitators took them through breathing exercises and encouraged them to practice deep breathing as another effective way to stay calm in an emergency.

Principal, Ms Nadine Williams was pleased with the programme and expressed her appreciation to UNICEF and Eve for Life for the work they did with her school. “The community was severely damaged by the hurricane. The disaster preparedness sessions will impact the community as a whole as we go into a new year and new hurricane season. It is part of the recovery efforts, and it is truly a blessing to have the students learn about emergencies,” she said. Children received copies of the UNICEF “Be Prepared” Activity Supplement which reinforces the tips which they learned in the workshops.

A similar session was taking place at the Galilee Basic School as the 2–5-year-olds arrived, happy to see their friends and Principal, Ms Yvonne Hibbert who ushered them inside and settled them along with their teachers. They quickly turned their attention to Cherly Simmonds, also known as Auntie Penny, who not only told them how to prepare when a hurricane is coming but what to do in the case of a fire or other emergencies. The little ones raised their hands eagerly to answer the questions Auntie Penny posed to ensure that they were paying attention. “Thank you so much for coming to share these important tips with the children,” said Mrs Hibbert who felt it is never too early to tell the children how to protect themselves.

The programme has contributed to equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to cope with disasters and emergencies. “It has provided them with a safe space to learn, play and heal,” said Joy Crawford, Eve for Life Executive Director.

Community leaders were also equipped to provide referral services for mental health and psychosocial support as the communities rebuild.