Creating and Growing Safe Spaces using Spoken Word Poetry and Agriculture to address Gender-Based Violence
Soroptimist International of Port of Spain (SIPOS) in collaboration with two organizations – ROOTS Foundation TT and Agronomics Inc designed and implemented a project entitled “Creating and Growing Safe Spaces” which sought to foster a climate of peace in our communities, and a healthier world beginning with the children.
The project incorporated a series of workshops geared to address the issues of bullying and Gender-Based Violence at two schools in the St James and Woodbrook areas- namely, St Agnes Anglican Primary School and St Crispin Anglican Primary School.
Using the growth of plants and the concept of a safe green environment, this project aimed to help children between the ages of 9-12 years understand themselves and others and explore ideas of living harmoniously by creating safe spaces for each other. The project strives to create and evoke the emotions of peace building through caring and nurturing seedlings of various types and studying the impact of the environment on growing plants. Through this, participants gained an appreciation of safe spaces, while becoming knowledgeable of the causes and the effects of Climate change. Students were exposed to strategies to navigate “Peace building” to counteract the scourge of crime, bullying and gender-based violence in our communities.
The methodology included the use of their strengths in spoken word and practical agriculture, respectively.
SIPOS intends to implement the program in other schools in its’ continuing efforts of curbing gender base violence.
