Reach Grenada News Keep up to date on all the news from Reach Grenada http://www.reachgrenada.org/ http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=54 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=54 Grenadian Caregivers REACH for New Yoga Skills
On December 2-4th, a group of 22 participants, 11 of which were child care workers from five of Grenada’s children’s homes, successfully graduated from a Teen Yoga Teacher Training course. This training, which was organized and funded by REACH Grenada, took place at the Fountain of Youth Yoga Studio in Grenada and was delivered by Erin Wilson of the New York based Karma Kids Yoga Company.

This year’s training awarded certifications to caregivers, thus enabling them to teach age-appropriate yoga techniques to the teens in their care. Instructors learned how to guide their students on a journey of self-exploration, giving them effective tools to handle stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and other challenges facing teens. Instructors will now help their teens develop life skills and self-confidence, so that they will be empowered to pursue their passions and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. Training topics included a review of the health benefits of yoga for teens; games and activities such as self-esteem, body image, relationships, and sexual health.

Caregivers working in Grenada’s children’s homes, as well as REACH Grenada Program Facilitators, attended the 3-day intensive training. Graduates included two child care workers from Queen Elizabeth Home for Children, two from The Dorothy Hopkins Centre for the Disabled and Elderly, three from Bel Air Home for Children and Adolescents, two from Father Mallaghan’s Home for Boys, and two from Government of Grenada Emergency Shelter Center. Additionally, three places were made available to members of the public who wished to participate in this excellent learning opportunity.

Jerry Bascombe, Child Care Worker at Father Mallaghan’s Home had this to say about his experience:

“I am so grateful to REACH Grenada for being a part of such life changing moment. My first practice with the boys was yesterday and they were so into it that they just wanted to go on and on. I cannot thank Reach enough for this sign of hope for the boys and this new journey for myself.”

The recent Teen Yoga Teacher Training has set the stage for the expansion of REACH Grenada youth programs to other children’s homes in Grenada.



]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=53 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=53 REACH Grenada Holds “The Magic of Mentoring" Training to Support T.A. Marryshow College Students Participating in REACH’s Buddy Mentoring Program
The training was based on Dr. Becky Bailey’s award winning Conscious Discipline® model and was instructed by Dr. Barbara Landon, a licensed psychologist with a specialty in pediatric neuropsychology. Participants learned valuable tools to assist them in mentoring children at QEH, such as how to recognize and address difficult or unhealthy behaviors and how to create optimal social and emotional learning states.

Dr. Landon has studied with Dr. Becky Bailey and has been teaching Conscious Discipline in Grenada for the past two years, through her work as a psychologist at St. George’s University. Dr. Landon had this to say about the training:

“I've been teaching Conscious Discipline and related subjects for quite some time. This particular group of students is one of the most eager, engaged, and receptive audiences I've ever encountered. It is so gratifying to present information to bright students who will actually go out into the world and make use of it!”

TAMCC lecturers Ms. Calisha Purcell-Charles, Ms. Ainka Antoine and Ms. Adana More also participated in the training. Mrs. Lorna Douglas organized and coordinated the training on behalf of REACH Grenada.

Participants received a certificate of completion at the end of the full-day training and were encouraged to apply mentoring principals not only as part of the REACH Buddy Mentoring Program but also with relatives and neighbors.

As one student who attended the training reflected:

'This training teaches you ways to control anger and relieve stress. Also, it teaches you self control and how to improve your self esteem. Also it teaches you the right ways and procedures you should follow when dealing with children'.

Echoing these sentiments, a participant in REACH's Buddy Mentoring Program expressed her newfound confidence in working with her buddy:

“I personally believe that I am ready and capable of handling any situation brought up through the mentor program. I learned many skills today that I can use with my buddy”.

]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=52 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=52 Team REACH Grenada Runs 2011 ING NYC Marathon to Benefit Care Homes in Grenada
REACH Grenada’s runners come from all over the world in support of the charity’s mission to help the most vulnerable children of Grenada. 2011's team consisted of 25 runners including representatives from USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy and Grenada. Clad in their REACH Grenada T-shirts, teammates hit the pavements and churned through all 5 boroughs of New York City, lined with crowds of cheering spectators and supporters. A first time marathon runner, Nathan Sheard comments:

“I can't thank the entire team at REACH Grenada enough. This has been an amazing experience and a wonderful opportunity to give back while meeting and exceeding personal goals in such a highly supportive environment.”

Over 600 donors worldwide contributed to the organization’s fundraising campaign on behalf of its team of marathon runners. One dedicated teammate, Chiara Ferragamo, set the team’s personal fundraising record by raising an astounding $31,000 USD for REACH Grenada. One hundred percent of the proceeds will support REACH Grenada’s programs which include Mentoring and Youth Yoga Life Skills classes benefiting children in residential care homes on the island. Proceeds will also support REACH Grenada's Caregiver Education programs, delivering training and coaching support in Conscious Discipline® for staff and managers of group residential homes.

Karen Lawson, co-founder of REACH Grenada and team REACH marathon runner, comments:

“Running the NYC Marathon is truly a triumph of the human spirit, body, and mind. Running the NYC Marathon along with 24 other dedicated souls was, for me, a peak experience that combined human solidarity, determination and fierce dedication to our goal of easing the lives of Grenada’s most vulnerable children. I wish that the children could have witnessed the outpouring of love and commitment that was generously offered by Team REACH Grenada as they kept their eye on the prize of the finish line- a metaphor for the hope and healing that will someday be theirs.”



Team REACH Grenada is proud to continue its tradition of marathon participation, and looks forward to competing in the 2012 ING NYC Marathon. The charity is already receiving requests from runners wishing to join the 2012 team. If you or somebody you know is interested in running with Team REACH Grenada in 2012, please email vincent@reachgrenada.org.]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=51 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=51 Second Year of Youth Yoga Summer Camp Focuses on More than Yoga!
Through this summer program, REACH Grenada piloted newly developed curriculum aimed at increasing the use of the children’s coping behaviors (i.e. calming, problem solving, and assessing social support). Topics included anger management, anti-bullying, empathy and goal setting. All the classes incorporated yoga postures and relaxation along with music, dance, art, games and drama.

Lisa Kasimow noted the children’s connection to the song “One Love” by Bob Marley. “Watching the children sing was truly inspiring. The minute they started to sing you could see joy on their faces and the energy in the room became united.” Incorporating music in the yoga sessions helped the children relax, let go of stress and connect with friends.

REACH’s Psychosocial Needs Assessment conducted in April (2011) reported that 46% of children living in group care home experienced peer relationship difficulties such as being bullied. Accordingly, as part of REACH’s new curriculum, anti-bullying workshops were held at both care homes. The adolescent population living at Bel Air especially benefited from the role-playing activities that taught strategies to identify and stop bullying. Ms. Alison Greene, Assistant Manager at Bel Air shared her impressions:

“After the bullying lesson you could see an immediate change in the girls’ attitudes. I saw girls stand up for each other after the workshop and name calling certainly decreased.”

In addition to the yearly Summer Camp, REACH has ongoing Youth Yoga Programs at Queen Elizabeth Home, Bel Air Home and Government of Grenada Emergency Shelter Center which are taught by group home staff and REACH Coordinators. REACH’s long term goal is for group home staff who are Karma Kids Yoga trained to teach youth yoga classes for years to come.]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=48 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=48 REACH Grenada Donates Playground Equipment Enhancing Children’s Recreation

 
REACH Grenada has now successfully installed playground equipment, consisting of 11 slides, 10 swing-sets, 7 see-saws, and 4 monkey bar-sets, benefitting approx. 2,000 students from 11 primary schools in St. Andrew’s Parish, Grenada.

REACH Grenada is happy to announce that the playground equipment is already having a positive impact. Ms. Liz Peters, Principal at Bel Air Primary School in St. Andrew’s Parish, had this to say about the project:

“REACH Grenada really makes dreams come true. The playground equipment allows the children to strengthen their muscles, cooperate together, and allows for group leaders to emerge. Most of all, children are kept busy and get a chance to have fun while playing at school.”

These donations have been part of REACH Grenada’s ongoing partnership with local schools in an effort to improve standards in children’s education, recreation and healthy living. The children have been enjoying their new playgrounds so much that students at St. Mathew’s Primary School even visited on weekends to use the equipment. “I also had a ride down the slide one evening after work!” admits Ms. Margaret Wilson, Principal at the St. Mathew’s Primary School.

The project was directed by UK-based Education Consultant Advisor Mrs. Elaine Moreton, who generously donated her time from April 2008 to August 2011 overseeing the entire REACH Grenada education program. Ms. Moreton shared these kind words with us:

“I am proud to have been a part of REACH Grenada and know that it will continue to enrich the lives of children in Grenada in so many different ways. Bartholomew Lawson’s ‘dream’ is now a reality and I wish all in the organization every success and happiness in the future.”

REACH is proud to have provided more safe places for the children of St. Andrew’s Parish to play and grow.

]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=44 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=44 The Grenada Support Group Honors Humanitarian Work of REACH Grenada Co-Founder Dr. Karen Lawson
  

Dr. Karen Lawson and her family were grateful to receive special recognition for their dedication to Grenada at this year’s Grenada Support Group Appreciation Awards Banquet, held in Brooklyn, New York on July 31, 2011.

The Grenada Support Group Award was bestowed upon Dr. Lawson and family in recognition of the humanitarian work of REACH Grenada, the organization she co-founded in 2008 with Mr. Neo Moreton to continue the charitable work and longstanding commitment of Dr. Lawson’s late husband Bartholomew J. Lawson, former Ambassador-at-Large to Grenada. REACH Grenada’s mission of improving the health and well-being of Grenada’s vulnerable children encompasses Bart’s spirit of selflessness and contribution to the people of Grenada.

REACH Grenada’s Program Director, Lindsay Eagleton, and Mentor Program Coordinator Lorna Douglas (pictured) attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Lawson, who commented:

“The entire REACH Grenada community is happy to be recognized for its work in caring for Grenada's most vulnerable children because through this public notice, we will broaden our circle of "givers and doers"- those able and willing to step up and contribute to our collective effort to bring healing to those in need.”

Founded in 1983, the Grenada Support Group raises funds to support projects in health, education and the arts on the island.]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=41 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=41 June 2011 Voluntourism Trip Benefits Two Care Homes in Grenada
The June 2011 Voluntourism group was broken up into two separate groups according to gender as to best serve the two distinct populations being helped; the 18 boys at the Father Mallaghan’s Home for Boys (FMHB); and the 12 girls at the Government of Grenada Emergency Shelter Center (GGESC)

RG’s Director of Marketing and Communication, Ann Merideth, led the group of 7 female volunteers to GGESC. Over the course of 4 days and 5 nights, the female volunteers painted bookshelves, placed stencils in the home’s main hallway, and designed outside playing courts for hopscotch, morale, and in-the-circle. The volunteers also refurbished the girls’ personal lockers and replaced doorknobs and handles throughout the home. The group also led the girls of GGESC in beadwork activities and games using the newly painted outdoor courts.

As a special surprise for the GGESC girls, Joanna Erdos, General Manager of School of Rock NYC, brought a keyboard to give private introductory piano lessons to those girls who were interested in learning how to play. Joanna was happily surprised to find that so many of the girls had a natural talent for playing the piano! Many female volunteers said that their most cherished time was spent making jewelry with the girls and hearing them sing and play music on the keyboard that was so generously donated to the home at the end of the trip.

RG’s Director of Contributions, Vincent Aloi, led the group of 5 male volunteers to the Father Mallaghan's Home for Boys in Victoria, St. Mark's Grenada. The trip led to the successful completion of the following service projects at FMHB; refurbishment of all of the lockers used to house the boys’ personal belongings; replacement of doorknobs and handles throughout the home; retiling of the floors in the boys’ bedroom, main staircase and kitchen; repairs to the boys’ shower room door; clearing-out and reorganization of the storage room as to make it a functional laundry room; and the donation of soccer balls and footballs for  the boys’ recreational use outside. Volunteers also donated 10 sets of new bath towels and bedding supplies to the home.

One volunteer, Nathan Sheard, had this to say about the trip:

“While much of my experience was deeply personal, I can say irrevocably that the experience was one of such great positive energies and memories that I hope to carry on into the future. I was so utterly impressed with the staff of REACH Grenada and the obviously apparent passion for what they do, and the children and caretakers they interact with regularly… It's one thing to know about the work that's being done, and another completely to have feet on the ground and see the results of that work, and the children who are so greatly aided by your efforts.”

We thank everyone for coming together to make this such a productive and meaningful trip. We look forward to continuing the success of this trip with future voluntourism trips later this year!

To learn more about REACH Grenada's Voluntourism trips and to get involved, please visit:
http://www.reachgrenada.org/voluntourism.php]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=39 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=39 REACH Grenada Provides Caregiver Training at Queen Elizabeth Home REACH Grenada provided caregiver training to 13 caregivers and two managers at the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children. The ARC (Attachment, Regulation and Competency), developed by Blaustein, Spinazzola, and van der Kolk, focused on ways caregivers can help children heal some of the emotional wounds of trauma resulting from abuse and neglect. 
Erin Brown, MSW, Peace Corps Response Volunteer provided the training over the course of 5 weeks. Caregivers learned how they may become attuned to the children while staying in tune with themselves and their own emotional experiences so they can provide the best possible care for children. They were given several tools and techniques to use in their day-to-day interactions to help the children identify, express, and regulate their emotions, and support the children in strengthening their cognitive functioning.

Additionally the training provided information on how trauma effects brain activity and how caregivers can help children recognize and modulate their physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions.

At the time of our children living in The Queen Elizabeth Home which is currently undergoing an expansion. When this is complete there may be as many as 50 children all of whom may benefit from our training.

“After the training was complete, caregivers seemed to have a much better understanding of children’s emotions and where they are coming from which helps them empathize,” says Erin Brown, Peace Corps Response Volunteer. “This empathy helps them improve their interactions with children and as a result they become even more nurturing and supportive to the children who need it most.”]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=40 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=40 REACH Grenada Launches its Junior Givers and Doers Program
In February, the REDS children created plantable cards using recycled materials and vegetable seeds and sent them to the QEH children to plant in their garden. As the plants grow, the orphans will share photos of the plants with the REDS students, thereby providing a foundation to form friendships between children across cultures.

REACH Grenada's plan for these partnerships is to select hands-on projects to make functional items that can be used in daily life and provide practical benefits. By actively involving the children in these projects, we provide them with a sense of ownership and responsibility. We believe that forming these relationships through actions and deeds will provide the greatest chance to develop unique friendships and foster a spirit of giving and charity.]]> http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=49 http://www.reachgrenada.org/news.php?showarticle=49 REACH Grenada attends Global Summit on Corporal Punishment
For the first time ever, this conference brought together an international group of policy makers, educators, researchers and members of the general public, united in their commitment to end corporal punishment against children, which is the number one form of violence against children worldwide.

REACH Grenada’s Program Director, Lindsay Eagleton, attended the summit along with 21 other countries represented at this conference. The program included:

• Reporting on children’s rights and research bases for ending corporal punishment and progress towards reform around the world
• Breakout sessions focusing on encouraging the use of positive discipline and strategies for reducing the use of corporal punishment in the home and schools
• Sessions on working with faith communities, cultural communities, professionals and youth

Participants contributed to brainstorming sessions and made recommendations for how to bolster change at all levels around the world. The summit produced a proclamation agreed by all delegates.

Through its participation at this summit, REACH Grenada aims to incorporate the latest in international child-rearing standards into its caregiver training programs in Grenada.

According to a report issued in July 2011 by the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, there are now 30 countries with full prohibition of corporal punishment and progress toward banning corporal punishment is moving forward in many other countries. Recent research shows that corporal punishment is still prevalent in the USA, although there is evidence to show that its use is declining. In Grenada, corporal punishment is legal, however, it is strictly prohibited in childcare homes by licensing requirements.

REACH Grenada hopes that with proper training, namely in the areas of positive parenting and Conscious Discipline, caregivers will be equipped with the proper tools. With training and support, caregivers need not resort to corporal punishment, thus breaking the cycle of neglect and abuse many of these children have faced throughout their lives.]]>