PRESS RELEASE - The Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment has embarked upon a series of follow-up interventions as a spin off to a successful second round of the Return to Happiness (RTH) Programme in Saint Lucia.
In January 2014, following the passage of a trough system in December 2013, the RTH was implemented as a national psychosocial response. Four hundred and fifty children between the ages of 5-14 benefited from the programme which was deemed an overall success based on participant feedback.
As part of the implementation process, participant behaviours and attitudes were closely monitored in an effort to identify those requiring further support. A number of participants were “flagged” for further psychosocial support to help them better cope with their particular circumstances as a result of their experiences during the passage of the trough system.
Permanent SecretaryJuliana Alfred said: “At this time, the Ministry of Social Transformation is providing additional support to those children whose families were severely impacted by the trough. We are conducting a two-pronged intervention using one-on-one counselling sessions and resilience building workshops for both children and parents. These interventions are intended to equip children and their parents with knowledge and skill sets to help them better cope with traumatic experiences, and unexpected interruptions in their lives.”
One-on-one counseling sessions are being conducted in Vieux Fort, Anse La Raye, Canaries and Bexon. Twenty-two children have been enrolled in these sessions which began on June 23, 2014 and will run through to July 30, 2014 at the Human Resource Development Centres and Schools in these communities.
Thirty-five children between the ages of 6-12 years and their parents are enrolled in the resilience building workshops, carried out at the Vieux Fort Primary School and at the Plain View Mothers and Fathers hall over a five-week period.
This effort is a collaborative intervention, headed by the Ministry of Social Transformation Local Government and Community Empowerment in collaboration with the Ministry of Education School Counsellor Unit, with financial support from UNICEF.
