‘TALLAWAH HELPING HANDS’ TO SUPPORT YOUTH, MENTAL HEALTH
ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann, May 3, 2024
Miss St Ann Festival Queen 2023, Ayoka Davis has launched her parish project. The project is aimed at combating negative perceptions about mental health and providing counselling and guidance to young people.
Ms Davis says she plans to actively engage teens in school in self-awareness and developing practical skills such as writing resumes and scholarship letters.
(Miss St Ann Festival Queen Ayoka Davis (center) is surrounded by supporters, students from the Port Maria High School Youth in Action Club, JCDC and library staff at the launch of her parish project. Senior Librarian at the St. Ann Parish Library Network, Opal Scott is at left).
Davis is guided by her project slogan, “Inspiring Lives and Rebuilding Brighter Futures,” targeting youths, 12 and over.
The St Ann Festival Queen’s Project is called Tallawah Helping Hands. It was launched at the St. Ann Parish Library, St Ann’s Bay on Thursday, April 19, 2024
Davis, who holds a degree in psychology and a minor in communication studies from Northern Caribbean University (NCU), plans to utilize her skills to help young people understand their feelings and develop self-esteem.
(Ayoka Davis interacting with students at her project launch)
“In collaboration with the St. Ann Parish Library Network, I plan to host support groups by arranging regular meetings led by special needs educators and mental health specialists,” Davis said. She says a date will soon be decided for the first meeting using the library network.
At the same time, she says she intends to reach out to schools to offer her support in counselling and guidance for students.
She plans to utilize Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory to enhance her project. The theory highlights the importance of understanding how people are constantly shaped and influenced by different factors in their environment.
“Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, receive guidance, and cultivate a sense of community during these counseling sessions. Through numerous activities, therapies, and mentorship, the programme attempts to empower youths, support their personal growth, and improve their mental well-being,” she added.
One of the general objectives of Davis’ project is to enhance the lives of youths by mentoring them in developing self-discipline characteristics and skills that will positively contribute to their psychological, physical, and social well-being.
(If you want to know more about the ‘Tallawah Heping Hands project’ of Miss St Ann Festival Queen 2023, Ayoka Davis, you may reach her at [email protected])
