The UBUNTU Movement Inc. launched its organization in mid-2023, in St. Lucia. The initiative is entitled, “Seeds for Justice: Peace and Economic Prosperity in St. Lucia.”
Now, as I understand it, the “Seeds for Justice: Peace and Economic Prosperity in St. Lucia Initiative” is a collaborative consultancy group intent on facilitating restorative social justice and healing across St. Lucia, beginning with the Vieux Fort community.
Indeed, the crime and violence situation which has been a menace to our communities and the Vieux Community in particular, has to be addressed in a serious and meaningful and structured way.
Now the “Seeds for Justice” is a collaboration of the UBUNTU Movement, Citizens for Peace and Prosperity, and Safe Spaces.
Indeed, a number of individuals and groups are lending support to the initiative The 100 Hours Volunteer Champions; concerned community leaders and residents.
Now I am very optimistic that the embryo of The Seeds will develop into healthy fruits which will be beneficial to St. Lucia. In March 2024, I published a two-part article entitled: “Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action.” In the first article, I proposed the following actions, when implemented, it could prevent youth violence:
Enhance the Skills and Experiences of Individual Youth, Community Leaders and Members.
(a) Should engage the young people as mentors, tutors, or volunteers at schools and youth serving organizations to support the healthy development of all young people. I am aware that some schools are already giving young people the opportunity to volunteer at their schools. For example, in sports and tutoring areas.
(b) Should provide meaningful and appropriate opportunities through business houses and social or civic groups for young people to develop their interests, skills and talents.
(c) Should praise good behaviour and take immediate action to stop youth violence when it occurs.
Now in the case of ‘Seeds for Justice’, I am aware that the initiative is not only seeking to engage youth, community leaders and members of the community, but is making those entities an integral part of organization. The situation in Vieux Fort is not an easy matter to deal with. However, “Seeds for Justice is pursuing the initiative with vigour.
Now there is a lot of scientific research which confirms that the involvement of the people affected in a situation should be involved in assisting in bringing about positive change. Certainly, the UBUNTU organization is moving in the right direction. Indeed, where the initiative is at this point, I am not very clear. But I would suggest that the implementors provide a progress report to the St. Lucian public, on what they have been doing.
The second action which I proposed was:
Use and Promote Youth Violence Prevention Strategies that are based on Evidence to Benefit the Entire Community
Community leaders and members:
- Should Support local actions by joining or starting a youth violence prevention coalition. By coalition I mean a structured group of persons dedicated to work across groups and sectors;
- Make prevention a community priority;
- Insist on the use of data to make decisions and put in place evidence-based approaches.
- Support local actions by joining or starting a youth violence prevention coalition. By coalition I mean a structured group of persons dedicated to work across groups and sectors;
- Make prevention a community priority;
- Insist on the use of data to make decisions and put in place evidence-based approaches.
- Share progress and successes to raise awareness that youth violence is a preventable public health problem.
Now it is important to understand that “Seeds for Justice” must work across groups and sectors to solicit their involvement in the process which they are leading. I’m suggesting groups like Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTA) of Schools in St. Lucia. Here is where a National Parent-Teacher Association would be vital. “Seeds” should attempt to work with the National Principals Association. They should be intent on working with the workers representatives. For example, the St. Lucia Teachers Union, the St. Lucia Nurses Association, the Police Association, the Prison Association, the Civil Service Association, the National Council on Public Transportation, the Association of Retired Persons; and The National Youth Council, which is a vital organization in that process. I am sure that there are organised groups that I may have left out. But the ideas is to seek out and work with resources that are readily available in the St. Lucian Society.
We say all the time that everyone should be involved in the prevention of crime in our society. The situation is now presenting itself and the Seeds should make an all-out effort to link up with those groups that I have listed above. Indeed, I see a very bright future for “Seeds for Justice”. As long as the organization develops a strong determination to achieve its goals and makes a serious effort of involving people and making a serious effort at providing progress reports to the wider community, “Seeds for Justice will become a formidable organization in St. Lucia.
To be continued.