TOYBOX Team at the IUSLC & EE in Kingston, Jamaica

The TOYBOX team was invited to present at the International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference & Entrepreneurship Exhibition at the University of West Indies (Mona Campus) in Kingston Jamaica on September 23-24, 2026. Dr. Kishi Anderson Leachman assisted the participation of our research assistants, Trisha Valencia, Christine Schmidt, and Erin Leathers, to present TOYBOX: Anchoring Early Childhood Interventions and Wellness through Community Alliances, Human Rights, and Diverse Pedagogical Perspectives. 

[Presenting at the IUSLC & EE]

This was TOYBOX’s first presentation introducing our project in the Caribbean, providing the wider audience of what and who we are, our accomplishments, and future goals for this project. Our presentation highlights how early childhood education as a fundamental right, culturally responsive interventions, community alliances, accessibility, and diminishing geographic/resource barriers reflects responsibility, sustainability, and efforts of global partnerships in our TOYBOX project. Each team member incorporated unique ideas for this presentation, including Dr. Sheri-Lynn Skwarchuk and other TOYBOX members supporting us all the way from Manitoba!

Going to Jamaica to attend the International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Expo at the University of the West Indies was an invaluable learning opportunity. At the conference people were incredibly receptive and excited about the ToyBox research project. We had many students from the Shortwood Teachers College in Jamaica ask for more information and take an interest in bringing the Toybox activities to their faculty, which was incredibly exciting. It was so beneficial to be able to attend this conference and share about the Toybox project with people doing similar work globally! - Erin Leathers

It was amazing to see how our audience, especially our fellow undergraduate students, educators, and professors were fascinated with the TOYBOX project. Our audience were captivated when introducing Litty, Nume, Welly and how they represent the foundation of children’s learning. We had the opportunity to connect with early childhood education students and teachers across different Caribbean countries about how we can integrate the TOYBOX project in their context. The conference provided TOYBOX the opportunity to share the importance of play-based learning as a foundational block for children’s development in our society. -Trisha Valencia

[Our visits in Mccam and Mona Heights]

Just a day before the conference, we had the opportunity to visit McCam Child Development Centre and Mona Heights Primary School. The administration, educators, and students welcomed us with open arms. We informed them about the TOYBOX project and provided materials on how they can incorporate play-based learning into their program. The visit to both institutions provided us a different perspective on the approaches of nurturing and supporting child development and the education system as a whole in the Caribbean context, particularly in Jamaica. 

The TOYBOX team had an amazing time in Kingston, Jamaica and we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Kishi Anderson Leachman, Professor Canute Thompson, and Ms. Dian Bailey for facilitating a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.