On Thursday 16 May, the Targeted Primary Prevention Programme, at Elliot Primary, celebrated the first 14 participants with a graduation ceremony held at the school.

In attendance was the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Caines, JP, MP, Commissioner of Education, Kalmar Richards, Principal, Kimberly Creighton, school faculty, family and friends.

The successful graduates of the Elliot Kings Group were:

• Zion Smith-Codrington

• Daezi Harvey

• Gregory Talbot

• Zaidon Smith-Codrington

• J’Kiah Minors

• River Curtis

• Danari York

• Josiah Smith

• Yacol Simons

• Jyaire Swan

• Zianni Trimm

• Qash Lambert

• Kyah Richardson

• Mason Whitehead

The programme was delivered by the Ministry of National Security’s Youth Outreach Prevention Manager, Darren Woods, Living Legends Community Organization Founder, Ian Coke and Elliot Primary School Educational Therapist, Don Vickers, all of whom lead the initiative. It is designed to reduce risk factors, enhance protective factors and increase developmental factors in participants. It also focuses on building and strengthening in four main areas:

? Self Confidence

? Positive Relationship Building Skills

? Teamwork

? Resilience

Plans are underway to expand the programme into other primary schools.

• Press release from the Ministry of National Security