Head of Child Month Committee passes baton after 2 decades

Dr Pauline Mullings has stepped down as the chairperson of the National Child Month Committee.

Her announcement surprisingly came on Thursday at the launch of Child Month 2024 at the Lecture Hall of the Institute of Jamaica in downtown Kingston and after serving the committee for 39 years.

After her announcement, the educator, certified counsellor and minister of religion announced that her successor would be Nicole Patrick Shaw.

“I’m happy that I was able to look among the team and find persons who I know can carry on and manage,” Mullings said.

She said that five years ago, she approached Patrick Shaw and she declined an offer to take up the mantle.

Mullings said she “went into prayer”, and to her surprise, when she mentioned it again in 2024, Patrick Shaw’s answer was “yes”.

“Nicole has served this committee. She has worked hard, and I believe that she has the ability to lead us,” Mullings said.

Mullings spent the greater part of her life in service to God and country and has been described as a thoughtful, caring, committed individual who is hardworking and humble in service.

Mullings has undoubtedly impacted many lives as a teacher at the Kingston High School. However, in addition to her areas of profession, she has an impressive record of service to volunteerism, starting from as far back as 1983.

Mullings started serving on the National Child Month Committee in 1985 and is one of its longest-serving members.

Over the years, she has served in the capacity of assistant secretary, vice chairman and has been at the helm for the past two decades.

She has also served as member of the Young Women Christian Association, as a National Youth Coordinator, an officer in the Girls Brigade of Jamaica, as well as founder of the 7th Kingston Company.

Mullings also currently serves as staff adviser to Wilbert Stewart Basic School, a member of the board of management for the Pentecostal Temple Skills Training Centre as well as deputy chairperson for the parent representative at the Wolmer’s High School for Girls.

Under her stewardship of the National Child Month Committee founded National Children’s Day, which is celebrated on the third Friday in May each year. It was established in 2011 and proclaimed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.

As a trained counsellor, Mullings has also volunteered her services as mediator and family counsellor in a number of communities, with a view of improving the lives of individuals.

After making her announcement on the brink of the island celebrating Child Month in May, Mullings received a standing ovation.

After accepting the role, Patrick Shaw had a surprise for Mullings by announcing her as the committee’s chairman emeritus and pinning the title to her, where she would still give advice.

“I’m just grateful to God for this opportunity to have served, and [appointed chairman emeritus] at a time when I’m still able to think, still able to give guidance, still able to share my experiences. I’m just grateful,” Mullings said.

For her part, Patrick Shaw, who said she depends on proverbs to start guiding her through this new leadership role, which has been bestowed upon her, as some proverbs resonate with the work of the National Child Month Committee since its inception in 1953 in trying to create an inclusive space for the nation’s children to grow and to be nurtured.

“There is an African proverb that has always resonated with me. It says, ‘The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth’. The proverb is quite graphic and clear in its meaning. It means that a child who is neglected or ignored by their community will resort to destructive behaviour to gain attention and validation,” Patrick Shaw said.

“The proverb implies that the child desperately needs connection, love, and community, and that they will cry out for help and even harm themselves and others. The proverb also suggests that the responsibility for children’s well-being lies not only with parents, but also with the whole village. As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’,” she said.

Patrick Shaw also highlighted that the village represents the extended family, neighbours, teachers, friends and the society, who she hopes will work together with the National Child Month Committee under her leadership, who themselves operate as a close-knit family.

“Over the years, I’ve experienced many things working on the committee, and I’ve been better by it. I’ve been better able to hone my skills in the area of design and implementation, programmes working children at risk, working with Liberty Hall – The Legacy of Marcus Garvey and the Programme’s Coordination Division,” she said.

‘Wanted to change lives’

Patrick Shaw said through her years of service with the National Child Month Committee, she said she has seen children blossom through their interventions.

“Through the programme, such as Action Day, Pickney Party, Youth Forums [and] Academic Youth Awards implemented by the National Child Month Committee, I remain inspired to do more in order to transform the lives of children being encountered,” Patrick Shaw said.

“I wanted them to feel appreciated and loved. I wanted to change lives. I’ve seen sadness transformed into smiles that will caress the coldest hearts … . I’ve heard children’s testimonies of how our programmes have changed their lives,” she said.

She also saluted Mullings for solidifying the foundation and being the pillar on which the new leadership team will stand.

“I stand in awe of all that you have done, and I draw on lessons you have taught me that children do come first,” Patrick Shaw said.

Child Month 2024 will be observed under the theme ‘Stand Up. Speak Out. Protect the Rights of Children’ and Patrick Shaw used to opportunity to make an appeal to Jamaicans.

“Stand up. Do not be passive in safeguarding the nation’s children. Don’t be that guy that maintains the see-and-blind, hear-and-deaf culture. Stop drinking water and pretending that you’re minding your own business,” she said.

“Our responsibilities as Jamaicans extend beyond caring for our individual children and relatives. Each citizen must tend to the care of each child. Speak out for the rights of our children. We cannot be silent on issues affecting our children. For too long, some citizens’ silence has become deafening, so much so that they hear nothing when their neighbours or friends abuse their children. Leaving them to cope on their own ... . These children never forget and they become adults who are broken butterflies unable to fly,” she said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com