13/08/2026
WHAT ARE OUR CHILDREN CARRYING? 🎒
Sometimes we prepare our children for a new school year by making sure they have the books, uniforms, shoes, pencils and school supplies they need.
But what about the things they are carrying inside their hearts and minds?
We are deeply grateful for the L I F E - Love Is Forever Excellent for the opportunity to have Mrs. Denielle Placide serve as the Feature Speaker at their Back-to-School Community Initiative in Morne Diable.
Mrs. Placide challenged the young people to pack five things for the journey ahead:
🎒 IDENTITY - I KNOW WHO I AM. Other people's opinions don't decide my worth.
🎒 COURAGE - I CAN DO HARD THINGS. Being courageous doesn't mean we are never afraid. It means we can be afraid and still take the next step.
🎒 WISDOM - I MAKE GOOD CHOICES. Before you follow the crowd: STOP. THINK. CHOOSE.
🎒 KINDNESS - I CAN BE SOMEONE'S SAFE PLACE. We never know what someone else is carrying. A simple act of kindness can make someone feel seen, valued and safe.
🎒 HOPE - I CAN START AGAIN. A bad day is not a bad life. A mistake is not the end. You can begin again.
But sometimes children carry things that don't fit neatly into a schoolbag : fear, rejection, bullying, disappointment, anger, shame, struggles at home, or things they don't know how to talk about.
So they were reminded: YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT ALONE.
Asking for help is not a weakness. Sometimes strength sounds like, “I need help,” and knowing when to reach out to a trusted adult can make all the difference.
The parents also received a few important nuggets:
✔️ Parent the child you have, not the child you were.
✔️ Your child needs your PRESENCE more than your PRESENTS.
✔️ Children learn what they live and live what they learn.
The shoes, books, backpacks and school supplies matter. But our children also need to know:
💛 My parent sees me.
💛 My parent hears me.
💛 I can make a mistake and still come home.
💛 I don't have to be perfect to be loved.
Because one day, they will carry what we have placed in their emotional backpack into the world.
To the team at L.I.F.E. — Love Is Forever Excellent Foundation , thank you for investing in our children and families and for creating spaces where young people can be encouraged, equipped and reminded of their worth and potential.
Parents, as this new school year begins, don't just ask: “What's in their backpack?”
Ask:
What are they carrying in their heart?
What are we putting there?
What do they need us to help them unpack?
May we give our children more than things to carry.
May we give them identity.
May we give them courage.
May we teach them wisdom.
May we model kindness.
May we nurture hope.
Thank you, for allowing us to be part of this meaningful initiative in Morne Diable. It was an honour to serve. 🙏🏽
