Festival Queen’s project to assist children’s mental health

First runner-up in the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2022, Sheri-Gaye Johnson, has embarked on her community project dubbed, 'Operation Safe Space', dealing with the mental health and physical well-being of children, while connecting them with support services.

Operation Safe Space was launched in April at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon, with organisations such as the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the police, addressing students about their rights, and providing contact details on how to seek help or support. Key among the objectives is educating young people to make informed choices about their mental health and physical well-being and empowering them to seek support. It also aims to expand youth access to physical and mental wellness supportive services.

Operation Safe Space will stage several activities, including an information exposition, school tours, youth leadership training seminars and conflict resolution training seminars. The project also aims to promote open dialogue among 100 youth or more, develop partnership with more than 10 child-help organisations, and to increase volunteers.

"I am really passionate about children, and as a youth leader from primary school onwards I realised a lot of children and young adults were facing different situations, whether abuse, depression or mental health issues, but didn't have the support that was needed, and that was how my project came about," Johnson told JIS News.

Johnson, who was Miss Clarendon 2022, said the project is intended for students 10 to 19, who are vulnerable and more receptive to this information.

"These are the children who are afraid to speak up because they are afraid of the consequences they may face," she said. "Since I have been crowned queen, I have had the privilege of being able to do a lot of social development work and attend civic events, which have been a part of the highlight of the experience for me."

Johnson, who is a student at The University of the West Indies, lamented the lack of sponsors for the project, noting that assistance will be needed to secure items for the participants as well as to arrange school tours.

"The United Nations Children's Fund and the Office of the Children's Advocate are organisations I am really interested in partnering with to get their attention and bring awareness to the children," Johnson said.