Changing the World One Positive Comment at a Time

The Harford Village Peace Workers, a community based group from Harford Village, formed last year in reaction to the rising violence in our community. The group believes the cycle of violence in our community and society can be reversed by providing and teaching kids the opposite of violence - peace, love, compassion, empathy and respect for oneself and others. The Community Group believes teaching living values and peace building skills should be part of children and youth’s everyday learning within schools, families and communities. We have been coordinating and facilitating child and youth positive programs both here in the village and with a few schools in St. Andrew’s over the past year.

The Harford Village Peace Workers began the New Year with a “Village Fun Day” in Victoria Park, Grenville. Over 40 kids (ages 3 to 18) floated through the village and down Cook Hill heading for the park to take part in an afternoon of three-leg races, tug of peace, human knot, lime and spoon, thread the needle and various running races such as relay, 100 meter, 400 meter ect. For the whole of the afternoon the kids shined. They were praised, cheered, embraced, high-fived, bounced and glorified! All of us left the park high on positive vibes. The peace leaders agreed that we must make Fun Day a regular activity. One of the leaders commented “We need to tire these kids out. Run out their anger!” you don’t see how they too tired to fight or make confusion.”

At one point three boys began play fighting while provoked by another set of kids sitting close by. One of the older kids in charge of provoking saw me walk towards them. I hear her say, “Watch Maureen coming to break up the fun.” She was surprised when I responded, “So you feel I’m going to let peace kids turn confusion kids?” Everyone laughed and the boys untangled themselves while the next race was called.

Some of the village elders sat under neath the pavilion drinking left over holiday carib and malt and commenting on the village kids’s talent, “Eh eh village kids have real talent!”

Theo and I sat on the veranda in the evening watching the moon rise and sharing the day’s memories. Felt great to be focusing on the strengths, and talents of the village youth which is too often buried by stories of violence and hate.

Theo and I agreed on the power of praise, appreciating one another’s talents and enabling kids the space to shine! Changing small corners of the world one positive comment at a time!