In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the charitable branch of Beaches Resorts, the Sandals Foundation, partnered with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, to jointly lead two sessions during the Early Childhood Commission's Annual Professional Development Institute Workshop in Kingston, Jamaica. The event, attended by some 2,000 educators and parents from both private and public schools, sought to share best practices for facilitating an environment where children can be and feel accepted in the classroom and at home. The Early Childhood Commission operates as an agency under the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth.

"Over our two-decade partnership with Sesame Workshop, Beaches Resorts has not only brought the laughter and learning of Sesame Street to its family resorts in the Caribbean, but also extended our impact through social initiatives with Sesame Street in Caribbean communities through the Sandals Foundation. By engaging with local communities in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos, we're committed to creating joyful experiences and making a positive difference in the lives of children and families both within our resorts and beyond." said Liz Kaiser, Vice President of Brand Development & Partnerships at Unique Vacations Incorporated.

Led by Rosemarie T. Truglio, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, presentations focused on the theme "R is for Resilience: Sesame Street's Commitment to Supporting Emotional Well-Being." Truglio shared valuable resources and demonstrated mindfulness strategies for educators and parents to build young children's emotional well-being skills. "Empowering children with the tools to navigate challenges big and small from an early age lays the foundation for their lifelong emotional health and happiness”, she concluded.

A resource handbook created by Sesame Workshop served as a key takeaway for participants of the workshop held May 20-24, 2024 under the theme "A Place to Belong: A Child's Right to Quality Early Childhood Education." The event focused on sharing best practices for creating environments where children can thrive socially and emotionally both in the classroom and at home. The handbook explores topics around emotional awareness, fostering social connections, and cultivating compassion - providing practical tips, real-life examples, and effective methods to address the emotional challenges that children and students may encounter, thereby empowering educators and caregivers to provide meaningful support.

Another highlight of the event was the fun-filled, interactive session with beloved Sesame Street friends, Elmo and Abby Cadabby, reinforcing the importance of emotional well-being through physical activity and play with 70 preschoolers joyfully engaged.

“Deep-rooted family values stand at the very core of the Beaches Resorts brand. The collaboration with the Sandals Foundation, Sesame Workshop, and the Early Childhood Commission epitomizes that joint commitment to family and fostering the holistic development of children,” explained Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “Through our combined efforts over the years, building the capacity of educators and parents in critical areas such as healthy eating, literacy, road safety, disaster preparedness, environmental conservation, and emotional well-being, we aim to empower children with the skills and resources they need to thrive. By leveraging the expertise and resources of Sesame Workshop, together, we are working towards creating a brighter and more resilient future for the children of the Caribbean.”