Berger Paints Supports Children’s Mural Project at Maxfield Park Home

Berger Paints Jamaica has joined with Maxfield Park Children’s Home on “Our Children, Our Treasure”, a mural effort aimed at encouraging the children, improving the surroundings and drawing more public support for Jamaica’s young people.

The community art project was developed by Project Manager Melissa Oliver for her final-year graded assignment. Her intention was to leave behind something meaningful that would continue to matter after the assignment was complete.

Berger Paints Jamaica supplied paint and other materials for the work, helping to turn the home’s entrance into a brighter, more welcoming art space.

“The mural was inspired by the resilience and often overlooked value of the children,” said Oliver. “We wanted to create a lasting visual reminder that every child is important, capable and deserving of love, joy and opportunity. It also encourages the wider community to see children as treasures and regard them as such.”

Asheaka James, Trade Marketing Manager at Berger Paints Jamaica, said the company welcomed the chance to assist a project using art and creativity to benefit children and support community development.

“At Berger Paints Jamaica, we believe colour has the power to transform spaces and create positive experiences,” said James. “Supporting the ‘Our Children, Our Treasure’ mural project aligns with our commitment to community development and creating environments where children can feel inspired, valued and hopeful about their future.”

The initiative includes several murals, with each piece built around ideas such as growth, endurance, happiness and inclusion. Oliver designed two of the works.

One mural, painted on the far left wall, shows a tree and represents growth and belonging. Its design was influenced partly by information from the Assistant Manager of the Maxfield Park Children’s Home, who spoke about a former school for children with special needs that had once been based on the property.

Lead muralist Sheldon Blake carried out that piece, with support from Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts students Damion White and Celine Maxwell.

On the far right wall, lead artist Sekani Daniel created another mural highlighting children’s joy and community. The central mural was both designed and painted by Roshane Taylor, using his own artistic approach to explore strength and resilience.

A fourth piece, a seascape by White and Maxwell, gave the young artists practical experience and exposure to professional work.

Oliver said projects such as “Our Children, Our Treasure” can support the emotional and social growth of children living in institutional care.

“Creative projects provide opportunities for emotional expression, confidence-building and a sense of ownership,” she explained. “Engaging the children in the process creates moments of joy, encourages imagination and helps them feel seen and included.”

She added that Berger Paints Jamaica’s contribution was central to the overall effect of the initiative.

“Berger’s support has been extremely meaningful because it helped transform the physical environment into a more vibrant, uplifting and inspiring space, not only for the children, but also for the staff and everyone who enters the environment,” Oliver said.

The organisers want the project’s success to encourage wider collaboration around children’s development and wellbeing.

“We hope this project encourages more organisations, artists and community members to invest in creative and developmental initiatives for children,” Oliver said. “‘Our Children Our Treasure 2026’ will serve as a model that we replicate in the years to come to promote culture, wellness, education and inclusion in children’s homes and other places of institutional care.”

For Oliver, the real value of the murals will be seen in what the children feel when they pass them each day.

“I hope the children feel happy, inspired, valued and proud of who they are,” she said. “More importantly, I hope the murals remind them that they are seen, loved and capable of achieving great things.”

The unveiling was paired with a day of activities for the children. The programme included storytelling with Dr Amina Meeks, drumming, folk dance, face painting for the younger children and a guided sip-and-paint session for the older ones.