Dear Friend in Peace,

Since 2005, The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has partnered with PALS (Peace and Love in Society) to strengthen and expand the peace movement in Jamaica through a Peace Month Campaign. This campaign has become a calendar event for many organizations, agencies, communities, stakeholders and persons who have been partnering with the VPA to promote a message of peace and provide tangible manifestation of the strength of the peace movement across the island.

Some of the main partners in the campaign are the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Peace Management Initiative (PMI), PALS, UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, the Healthy Lifestyle Project of the Ministry of Health, the church and several NGOs such as 4H clubs & the Forestry Department. Existing sponsors of the VPA are the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation, the Cable & Wireless Jamaica Foundation, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, SuperPlus Food Stores, the Healthy Lifestyle Project in the Ministry of Health and the Wisynco Group.

We are seeking your support in organizing a group of your organization’s members to participate in the peace march, as well as the Peace Rally, scheduled for March 4. Additionally, we are seeking your involvement in this Campaign to adopt the peace campaign theme and incorporate violence prevention activities within your organization’s existing community outreach programs and events for 2008.

The campaign will highlight Peace Day, on 4th March 2008 with peace marches in communities, involving civic groups, churches, and the business community. Additionally, a number of community activities will take place throughout the month of March, including sporting and cultural activities, targeting violence prone communities as well as school based activities carried out by PALS. This year, one important activity is the scheduled calaloo and tree planting by school children and youngsters, thus demonstrating the “prosperity” which can be derived from community activities that are based in peace. To launch our Peace Campaign Strategy in 2008, there will be a press conference dubbed ‘Peace for Prosperity’ on February 7, 2008 at the Courtleigh Hotel.

As Prof. Barry Chevannes, Chairman of the VPA states, ‘there is a peace movement in Jamaica, but it remains virtual, everyone is for peace, and many are the peace workers, but nowhere is this fact allowed to manifest itself’.

The annual peace campaign will bring together all agencies and stakeholders to provide a tangible manifestation of the strength of the peace movement. It is also a time for all organizations to bridge the divide and work together for one common cause.

We hope that your organization will be able to participate and support this important Campaign. Please contact Jaevion Nelson at 909 2878 or email [email protected], Deanna Ashley email address [email protected], or Elizabeth Ward [email protected] for further information and/or to discuss your involvement.

We look forward to a favorable response.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Ward (Dr.)
Chairman