Shellian Mayne, a mother of two, is changing the way she parents thanks to the Rose Garden community’s parenting club, supported by Project STAR.
“When I attended that parenting style session by the social worker at Project STAR, it really gave me a new perspective. Now, I try to be there for my children, be their role model and friend, so they aren’t afraid to talk to me,” Mayne said.
Mayne, from Wildman Street in Rose Garden, shared that she didn’t have good parenting examples growing up.
“If you haven’t experienced parental love, it’s hard to show it to your own children because you tend to repeat how you were raised. If your mother used bad language with you, you might do the same with your child. But I am breaking the cycle,” she said, crediting the parenting club and her Christian faith.
Karen McGlashin, a social worker at Project STAR, stated that parenting clubs have been set up in Rose Garden and Parade Gardens to improve parenting skills in these communities.
“The family is the first place of socialization. When the family is affected, it has multiple implications. The parenting club is a resource for parents who need help,” she said.
McGlashin explained that club members learn best practices to make parenting easier. “We upgrade the parents’ skills using tools like good communication, showing love, and understanding what works and doesn’t,” she said.
She added that there are plans to expand these clubs to other communities. New clubs have recently been established in May Pen, Clarendon, and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.
Saffrey Brown, director of Project STAR, said community members identified weak family structures as a major issue. Project STAR has been working to support families and provide development opportunities for children.
“We have several support programs to strengthen families and promote positive outcomes for children, which are crucial for community development,” Brown said.
These programs include parenting clubs, a school-feeding program, and an after-school work program.
“Our school-feeding program in Rose Garden and Parade Gardens helps parents with young children by providing warm meals, which has improved attendance and learning,” she said.
Brown also highlighted community activities like unity days, medical fairs, and back-to-school treats. These events involve families in community development and help increase skills, knowledge, and empowerment.
She noted that low educational attainment is another priority issue, with many household heads lacking secondary qualifications. There are also significant numeracy and literacy challenges among the children.
“To address this, we launched an after-school homework program in Parade Gardens, which we will expand to other communities. Trained teachers help children with numeracy, literacy, and social skills. These programs reduce conflicts at home and decrease the risk of children engaging in antisocial activities. Our youth summer programs continue this effort,” Brown said.
Project STAR is a five-year social and economic transformation initiative targeting underserved communities experiencing high levels of crime or violence.
