Violence Interruption and Prevention Initiative Launched

A violence interruption and prevention initiative geared at promoting kindness to combat destructive thoughts, words and actions has been developed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Novelette Grant.

The project, which is dubbed Acts of Random Kindness (ARK), builds on the Youth Empowerment and Mentorship (YEM) Programme, which has among its core values, kindness.

The YEM Programme, which encouraged positive attitudinal changes among participating students, was also developed by the senior police woman, who is in charge of the Administration portfolio.

Speaking to JIS News at the launch of ARK at the office of the Police Commissioner on Old Hope Road on November 23, Ms. Grant explained that an increasing number of people need to be aware of the “power of words, of the power they have to be transformative in other people’s lives”, which is the aim of ARK.

“We know that there are lots of acts of random kindness that happen daily, but those are buried. They are like treasures buried, but we pull the rubbish and the worst of us, and we highlight and propagate it, especially on social media. We really want people to be more conscious of the kindness they engage in. Brag about doing kindness,” she urged.

The DCP noted that doing acts of kindness can be useful, especially in preventing persons from doing harm to themselves.

Statistics provided by Ms. Grant indicate that “in the last five years (there) have been 26 young children who have committed suicide”.

“Think about the words you use to your children, (because) they are harmful,” she said.

Ms. Grant’s initiative has received support from State Minister in the National Security Ministry, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., who also hailed her for being “a champion for identifying those blind spots that we glance over”.

Senator Charles Jr. also encouraged the promotion of kindness to those deemed unkind.

For his part, State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, said kindness must become a way of life in Jamaica.

“A programme such as this is a wonderful way to change the culture and promote kindness. We want to see social media being used to share more acts of kindness,” he said.

Meanwhile, Development Practitioner and Researcher, Kemesha Kelly, noted that the project represents a grand opportunity to start a kindness revolution.

The ARK project has been endorsed by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of Jamaica, Northern Caribbean University (NCU) and the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC).