William Knibb High Reaping Benefits of CFA's Psychosocial Support Programme

Kingston, Jamaica (29 Jul, 2026) - The administration of the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny is reporting great influence on the grade ten student participants of the Children First Agency's (CFA) psychosocial support programme.

The recently concluded activity which ran for six weeks, reaching 125 students, is a part of the Skills for Upliftment Project in partnership with Food for the Poor Jamaica.

Executive Director of the Children First Agency, Claudette Richardson-Pious explained that increased vulnerability after Hurricane Melissa, made the initiative necessary. 

“The sessions were actually part of our Hurricane Melissa response. Though the negative impact of a storm is largely infrastructural, what we've seen in practice is that existing or new social issues are often worsened by trauma. When faced with unemployment in the household, food insecurity, unstable living arrangements among other challenges, many begin to act out as their way of managing stress, utilising unsafe and unhealthy methods to cope,” said Richardson-Pious.

Claudette Richardson-Pious, executive director.

Topics covered throughout the weekly sessions include substance use (vaping and smoking awareness), anti-bullying, positive coping mechanisms, gender-based violence (GBV), interpersonal relationships and resilience building.

Reflecting on the initiative while it was underway, Principal, Linvern Wright, shared that students showed great enthusiasm about the CFA's involvement in their curriculum. 

“This is something that is wonderful for the children. I find many of them have gravitated towards them [CFA] maybe more easily than their teachers. The students are very happy about the engagement that is allowing them to speak genuinely to what is happening to them and they're getting a chance to provide solutions for themselves. It really seems to be impacting them significantly and it's something that ought to be continued,” said Wright.

Principal, Linvern Wright

Student Councillor and Sub-Prefect, Nashaye McKenzie expressed her appreciation for the programme.

“I think it's important to have it in schools because as high school students we're now at an age where we tend to think that it's time to smoke or [do] whatever adults are doing. So, we need to learn about drugs, life and what may come with it, just to know the good and the bad so we can protect ourselves and be on the good side,” said McKenzie.

Tenth-grade sub-prefect, Nashaye McKenzie.

The Skills for Upliftment Project, which also included literacy and numeracy support, life skills for children, vocational training, and parental support, aimed to strengthen the resilience and wellbeing of vulnerable children, youth, and families across Trelawny, Manchester, Clarendon, St Thomas, St Catherine, and Kingston & St Andrew. One thousand two hundred children and adults were reached.

Children First Agency in collaboration with its partners is dedicated to making a lasting impact on beneficiaries across the island through various efforts.

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