On April 29th 2022, 56 persons received certificates of completion from a parenting program held in the Sineku Catchment area. The participants were residents of Sineku, Mahaut River and
Gaulette River.
The program was held in the month of April at the Sineku Resource Centre and was spearheaded by the Child Abuse Prevention Unit of the Social Welfare Division under the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, Youth At Risk, Gender Affairs, Seniors Security and Dominicans with Disabilities in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment.
Honourable Dr. Adis King- Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Youth At Risk, Gender Affairs, Seniors Security and Dominicans with Disabilities advised the parents to use the training as a means of self-development and empowerment. Dr. King emphasized the need for stronger families and for the elimination of child abuse in the Kalinago Territory and Dominica by extension.
Honourable Cozier Frederick, Parliamentary Representative for the Salybia Constituency and Minister for Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment, encouraged the parents to take the training seriously and to put what they have learned into practice. Honourable Frederick stated that parents must play their part to safeguard children and therefore proper parenting skills are needed in this effort. Honourable Frederick was very heartened at the number of persons who participated in the program. Participants of the program also expressed their gratitude for the program. One participant stated “I learned a lot and because of the information presented, it allowed me to do some introspection and decided to work on myself for the better”. Another participant encouraged the parents to break the silence on child abuse and to work together to build a stronger community and better children.
Mrs. Sylvanie Burton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, Youth At Risk, Gender Affairs, Seniors Security and Dominicans with Disabilities and a resident of the Kalinago Territory encouraged the participants to report cases of child abuse and to build support groups in order to help each other build better families and thus creating a safer community for the children. She advised the men to be trail blazers and to denounce child abuse in the community.
The program covered topics such as communication in the family, conflict resolution, helping your child succeed in school, Child Abuse: signs, effects and how to protect your child from abuse, roles and responsibilities of parents and children, managing your finances and positive health habits.
From the 56 participants, 21 men completed the program. Parenting programs will continue in other parts of the Kalinago Territory and around the country.
