The Ministry of Equity, Labour, Gender, Elderly Affairs, Social Justice and Consumer Welfare recently concluded a successful two-part parenting workshop series under the 2025/2026 Community After School Program (CASP) component aimed at strengthening family structures. The sessions were held at the Bocage Combined School and the Morne Du Don Government Combined School centres on January 22, and January 29, respectively.
The workshops offered a comprehensive approach to modern parenting by combining practical life skills with emotional strategy. A key focus was wholesome alternative discipline, where parents learned to swap punitive tactics for guidance-based techniques that build emotional intelligence.
After exploring how to build emotional intelligence through alternative discipline, the focus shifted to the practical management of anger and acting out. By examining the ‘why’, parents were equipped with the specific tools needed to de-escalate high-tension moments for both themselves and their children.
Social Transformation Officer responsible for the Castries East and North regions, Shalina Mann-Eleuthere, stated “Our goal is to move beyond traditional, reactive discipline and focus instead on the holistic emotional health of the entire family unit.” She further noted, “By providing parents with these high-level resources, we are doing more than teaching techniques; we are making a deliberate investment in the long term social fabric of our communities. We believe that when parents are equipped with both emotional strategies and practical self-sufficiency skills, they are better positioned to break cycles of conflict and build nurturing environments for the next generation.”
The traditional parenting workshop also included a hands-on soap-making segment. This addition served a dual purpose; providing a therapeutic, creative outlet for parents and offering a potential avenue for micro entrepreneurship and household savings.
The impact of the sessions was immediate. Christencia Pierre-Joseph, a parent who attended the Morne Du Don Government Combined School session, shared her experience, noting, “The information given by the different facilitators have me looking at the ways I can improve myself as a parent. I found it very informative.”
The Ministry Equity remains committed to bringing these transformative programs to various districts, ensuring that every Saint Lucian family has access to the tools needed for success. Furthermore, the Ministry wishes to express its profound gratitude to the various stakeholders for their valuable contributions in making these workshops a great success. It is via these essential public-private sector partnerships that community-level transformation is made possible.
