A YOUNG BOY ENGENDERS CHANGE AT PRIMARY SCHOOL - The Jamaica Star - November 24, 2014

Rosalee Ramdon, principal of Rock River Primary School; Gene Shaw, construction manager at Digicel Foundation; and Latoya Harris, public/private-sector partner manager, reviews the plans for the new sanitary unit being built by the Digicel Foundation at the school.

WITH THE HELP OF DIGICEL FOUNDATION, FOOD FOR THE POOR

Four years ago, 10-year-old Wajay Jonas made a bold move. Motivated by the poor sanitary conditions in his then primary school, Rock River, Wajay set out to make a change by writing to corporate Jamaica in the hope that they would hear his plea.

"I realised that the pit latrine at the school was not safe. Students would stand on it and I was afraid they would fall in," explained Wajay. "I wouldn't use it because of that and would have to wait till I got home in the evenings. As deputy head boy at the time, I thought I needed to do something about it."

NEW BATHROOM BLOCK

In 2012, his letter reached the Digicel Foundation, which committed to building a new bathroom block for the school. Wajay, now attending St George's College, was excited. "I was very happy when I heard, and very shocked because it was so long ago. I just wanted them to get it really quick," he added.

Wajay is now considered a local hero in his community and his past school. He says the experience has taught him many lessons, With a love for science and mathematics, Wajay aspires to become a hydrologist in the future and according to his mother, he has shown the potential to become a leader in any field.

The bathroom block at Rock River Primary School was recently completed by the Digicel Foundation in partnership with Food For The Poor and the National Education Trust, and will cater to the more than 90 students.

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20141124/news/news9.html

FFP FULFILLS ITS PROMISE TO MOH

FFP DONATES FOGGERS TO MOH: David Mair (front row right), Executive Director, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica hands over one of the nine pest control foggers donated by FFP to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse (front row center), Acting Chief Medical Officer on November 20 at the charity organisation’s head office in Spanish Town. Also sharing in the moment are: Susan Moore (left), Director of Recipient Services, FFP; (back row from right) Ava-Gaye Timberlake, Director of International Cooperation in Health, MOH; Nakle Haddo, Director of Distribution Services, FFP; Sophia Williams, Health Care Coordinator and David Shoucair, Director of Distribution Logistics, FFP. (PHOTO: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

NEWS RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – November 21, 2014: Food For The Poor (FFP) has fulfilled its promise of donating seven million 500mg paracetamol and acetaminophen tablets, 2,300 bottles of insect repellent and nine portable pest control foggers to the Ministry of Health.

Last month, the charity organisation announced that in an effort to help Jamaica fight the chikungunya virus, it would donate the medication, repellents and equipment in two phases for the benefit of the less fortunate in our nation.

The seven million paracetamol and acetaminophen tablets, 2,300 bottles of insect repellent and nine portable foggers were purchased by Food For The Poor Florida and shipped to Jamaica. The first phase of the handover occurred on October 14, while the second phase took place yesterday at FFP’s head office located in Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town.

According to David Mair, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, the cost of the donation made yesterday was US$24, 851.

Mr. Mair said, “Food For The Poor is delighted to partner with the Ministry of Health once more, as we continue in our effort to serve our less fortunate brothers and sisters across the island.”

He added that, “Food For The Poor decided to donate nine portable foggers to the Ministry of Health, so that their rate of fogging mosquitoes efficiently across our nation can be increased.”

A team from the Ministry of Health, spearheaded by Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, Acting Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, accepted the donation from Mr. Mair yesterday. The Minister of Health, The Honourable Dr. Fenton Ferguson, accepted the first phase of the donation.

-end-

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 375-6136

PARACETAMOLS FOR MOH: David Mair (left), Executive Director, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, shows Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse (center), Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health (MOH) samples of the repellent and paracetamols donated on November 20. Looking on is Ava-Gaye Timberlake, Director of International Cooperation in Health, MOH. (PHOTOS: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

GLOVES FOR MOH: Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse (center), Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health (MOH), tries on a pair of gloves from the hundreds donated by Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica on November 20. Also sharing in the moment are: Ava-Gaye Timberlake, Director of International Cooperation in Health, MOH and David Mair, Executive Director, FFP.

ACCESSORIES FOR FOGGERS: After the official handing over of paracetamols, insect repellents and nine pest control foggers to the Ministry of Health, David Mair (left), Executive Director of Food For The Poor Jamaica, shows shows Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse (center), Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, accessories which should be used with the foggers.

NEWELL HIGH GETS AGRI BOOST - Jamaica Observer - November 23, 2014

HOW HYDROPONICS WORK: Sophia Vassell (second right), agriculture teacher, explains to students how cultivation will take place in the PVC pipelines that were installed in the hydroponics unit. Observing the demonstration is vice principal Audrey Ellington (right). (PHOTO: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

BY AINSWORTH MORRIS
Career & Education writer

THE agricultural programme being offered at Newell High School has been boosted with a new hydroponics unit, 24 goats, five beehives, 15 rabbits, 70 white leghorn layers and various farm tools.

The school, located in the Pedro Plains division of south west St Elizabeth, was aided by Food for the Poor Jamaica.

"We wrote to Food for the Poor requesting some farm tools for the department. They came, delivered the tools, and were impressed with what we were doing in agriculture. We thought the donation would have ended there, but they then asked how else they could assist with the agricultural programme of the school. You can just imagine how happy we were to hear that question," said Sophia Vassell, agriculture teacher.

Vassell said the hydroponics unit is the most treasured of all that has been donated, because the students are now able to grow plants in water without using soil as their buffer.

The school's hydroponics unit is a 1,200 square foot structure, with galvanised pipes, shade netting, PVC pipes, water tanks, an electric water pump, fittings and a screen filter in which the students have started growing lettuce. They also grow ornamental and floral plants in a shade house.

"There are few greenhouses in the parish, and we don't really have a hydroponics system of this nature on this side of the island, so I am extremely proud to know that Newell High School is taking the lead in this regard and will become a model school for all the other educational institutions in this region," Vassell said.

According to Audrey Ellington, vice principal and former agriculture teacher at the school, since the school received the donation, she has observed an increase in the interest students have for the subject of agriculture.

"The students are all very excited. They are so excited and it has really motivated them to participate and learn more about agriculture. As someone who has a passion for agriculture, this is really refreshing. Words are not enough to say thanks to Food for the Poor for everything they have done for us."

Selena Ledgister-Kellier, agriculture manager, FFP Jamaica, said the organisation could not resist helping.

"We had a vision to do an agriculture programme that was different from the traditional greenhouse units that we would normally donate, hence the construction of the hydroponics system at Newell High School. We wanted to introduce students to an alternative agricultural technology that is a non-traditional way of growing vegetables," Ledgister-Kellier said.

"This is a pilot project for us and, depending on the success, we will definitely introduce this kind of technology to other institutions. This project is also about stimulating the minds of the youth by giving them an alternative method to grow plants, which is both technological and scientific in nature."

THANK YOU, FFP: Audrey Ellington (right), vice principal of Newell High School and (from left) Sophia Vassell, agriculture teacher, students, Debbie Esson and Racid Simms, were filled with excitement when members of Food For The Poor visited their school recently to assess the new hydroponics unit which was donated to their school by the charity organisation. (PHOTOS: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

THUMBS UP, NEWELL HIGH: Agriculture students at Newell High School in St. Elizabeth, join their agriculture teacher, Sophia Vassell (far right), in giving a thumbs up as they celebrate the installation of a new hydroponics unit at their school compliments of Food For The Poor.

NEWS RELEASE - TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS GET HELP FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: Some of the scholars who were awarded with scholarships by Food For The Poor on November 13. (PHOTO: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – November 17, 2014: Twenty-five tertiary level students were awarded with scholarships by Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica totaling J$2-million, yesterday, November 13.

The students were awarded at the charity organisation’s chapel located at Ellerslie Pen in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

According to Mr. David Mair, Executive Director of FFP Jamaica, his organization decided to assist needy tertiary level students with grade point averages around 3.0 at this time of the academic year, because some students, although in week 11 of the semester, have not fully paid their tuition fees.

“Just three months ago, 290 students from the fourteen parishes in the island were awarded with bursaries valued at approximately $5.3 million from Food For The Poor Jamaica. Today, thanks to the generosity of our donors, Food For The Poor has significantly lessened the financial burden of 25 tertiary students by offering these additional grants,” Mr. Mair said during his address to the scholarship recipients at the handover.

“This is our investment in grooming our children for future success in academia and life skills,” he further stated.

For the past 15 years, FFP has assisted students from all levels of Jamaica’s education system with financial grants.

Mr. Mair said that although FFP has an image of being passionate about assisting needy Jamaicans with regard to food, housing, fishing agriculture, health care services and prison ministry, the charity organization also has a passion for helping the youth of the nation in achieving the various levels of education.

“In addition to the tertiary level scholarships, 43 students from the basic, primary and high school levels have received financial assistance to the tune of over J$300,000,” he said.

In closing, Mr. Mair said all FFP Jamaica desires in return from the scholars, is to, “maintain a minimum B average or a GPA of 3.0 at all times and to remember that someone help you, so it is your duty to help others.”

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 3756136

FFP HELPS YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT - Jamaica Observer - November 16, 2014

THANK YOU, MR MAIR: Cordell Green (left), final year medical student of the University of the West Indies, Mona, accepting his scholarship cheque from Food For The Poor's Executive Director, David Mair, last week. (PHOTO: PETRI-ANN HENRY)


AINSWORTH MORRIS
Career & Education writer

THE charming smile reserved for patients on the wards at the Kingston Public Hospital would have, up to recently, belied the struggles Cordell Green was facing.

But Green was always a fighter, and even the prospect of not being able to complete medical school didn't make his energy falter.

The 25-year-old final-year medical student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) had always struggled, from the time he was a boy growing up in Buff Bay, Portland, raised by his mother with five siblings who alternated going to school because of poor finances.

An absentee father put a strain on the family, and his mother had to raise goats and sell goods on weekends to earn a meagre income for the family to survive.

With the little they earned, Green said he and his siblings took turns on weekdays to attend Buff Bay Primary School.

After sitting his grade six exit exams, young Green got a place at Annotto Bay High School in St Mary, but his mother told him she couldn't afford secondary schooling.

He decided to contact his father with the news, with the hope of getting assistance.

"My father said he would assist me only if I came to live with him and attend Happy Grove High School in Portland. I got the transfer, but to my surprise, I went to live with my grandmother in St Thomas. I had to assist her with selling, but I still did not attend school as often as I should have. I was not at the reading level that I should be, and I was failing at most of my subjects," said Green, who was last week awarded a scholarship from Food for the Poor Jamaica to complete his studies.

After starting Happy Grove High School, young Green was enrolled in a reading programme and his academic performance improved significantly.

In third form, he said he was named the top-performing student and in fourth form, he announced that he wanted to become a doctor. His grades in the sciences made him eligible to sit the science subjects -- chemistry, biology, physics, agricultural science -- along with food and nutrition, information technology, mathematics and English language.

He aced them all, and continued to the sixth-form programme at Titchfield High School, where he pursued science-based subjects at the advanced level.

"It wasn't easy to pass those subjects. During that period, we didn't have electricity for a long period due to the passage of a hurricane. I had to travel back and forth to the Manchioneal Police Station in order to study and do research," Green said.

Enrolling at UWI in 2009 posed another major challenge. He was interested in the medical programme but didn't possess some vital documents, nor could he afford the tuition, and he was encouraged to enrol in the Faculty of Pure & Applied Sciences temporarily. In 2010 he was accepted into the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Over the last six years, having proved his mettle, sharing his struggles with his relatives, community members and close friends, he has been given assistance to pursue his studies, until recently, when his benefactors fell on hard times.

"I applied for scholarships and asked persons to assist me financially. Mr Palmer, a man from my community, told me that he was going to ask Food for the Poor to assist me," Green said.

After hearing his story, Food for the Poor awarded him, and 24 others, scholarships to the tune of $2 million last week.

"I don't know what I would have done without Food for the Poor. I am so grateful. Thanks to the donors, I don't have to be burdened with not knowing how or if I would be able to complete my studies," Green said.

"The assistance will help me to finish my studies, advance my career as a medical doctor, and help me build a better Jamaica."

CORDELL GREEN AT KPH: Scholarship recipient Cordell Green during a break at Kingston Public Hospital recently, where he is currently undergoing the practicum area of his medical degree programme.

CORDELL’S STUDY DESK: The desk at which scholar Cordell Green used to study at the Manchioneal Police Station when he had no electricity at home.

GIVING THANKS TO FFP: Cordell Green (right) delivering the vote of thanks last week at Food For The Poor's handover of scholarships to 25 tertiary level students.

MILLION DOLLAR GREENHOUSE - Jamaica Observer - November 12, 2014

NEW GREEN HOUSE FOR MANNING'S HIGH SCHOOL - Jamaica Observer - November 9, 2014

SOWING SEEDLINGS: Taylor McKenzie, 6th Form Student at Manning’s High School in Westmoreland and the Caribbean’s regional winner for agriculture for 2014 in the CXC examinations, demonstrates her talent of sowing seedlings in the new greenhouse donated to her school by Food For The Poor (FFP) and Digicel Foundation. Assisting with her demonstration is Richard Washington, head of the agricultural department of the school. Also observing is Othneil Carby (second right back row), Field Officer, FFP. (PHOTO: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

Manning's High School has received a renovated 1,500 square ft greenhouse from Food For The Poor Jamaica in partnership with The Digicel Foundation.

The administrators of the Westmoreland school said for months they had been seeking assistance with repairing their dilapidated greenhouse, as the continuation of the school's agricultural programme was threatened.

Richard Washington, head of the agricultural department, said a friend told him that Food For The Poor might have been able to assist, and so he sought their support.

"With our new greenhouse, our students can be exposed to more innovative ways of growing crops as against utilising traditional ways of tilling the soil, which is what most are familiar with. Now they can become involved in utilising new and advanced technology while at school," Washington said.

Acting principal Megan Berry also expressed delight about the new greenhouse.

"We are extremely thankful for the greenhouse which will enable our agricultural department to continue to do well in teaching our students about the theoretical and practical application of agriculture," Berry said.

"Having the greenhouse will also benefit the canteen, as we will be able to purchase produce at a subsidised cost. So it will not just be used for instructional purposes, but it will also supply the school's canteen with vegetables."

The school has previously received gifts of school furniture and cafeteria tables from Food For The Poor.

The new greenhouse has new shade netting, galvanised pipes, ultraviolet treated greenhouse plastic, water tanks, an electric water pump, screen filter, fertilisers, seedlings, flower pots, gutters and an irrigation system.

It will also assist students with their school-based assessments and foster the training of 4-H club members in crop care and management.

-Ainsworth Morris

(PHOTOS: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

THANK YOU, FFP AND DIGICEL FOUNDATION: Students of Manning’s High School along with (from left) acting principal, Megan Berry; agriculture teachers, Richard Washington and Demerce Guscott and relief development manager at Food For The Poor, Marsha Burrell sharing a moment in the newly refurbished greenhouse after the official handover recently.

THUMBS UP: Teachers, students and Othneil Carby (left), field officer in the agriculture department at Food For The Poor Jamaica, each give a thumbs up in celebration of the refurbished greenhouse handover to the school.

MANNING’S HIGH’S ‘NEW’ GREENHOUSE: The refurbished greenhouse at Manning’s High School located in Westmoreland.

TILLING THE SOIL: Richard Washington (front center left), head of the agricultural department at Manning’s High School, shows his students how to till the soil of the newly constructed greenhouse.

NEWS RELEASE - HOPE ZOO GETS COLD FOG MACHINE FROM FFP

FLIPPING THE SWITCH: Dr. Kenny Benjamin (right), Executive Chairman of Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation and David Mair, Executive Director of Food For The Poor Jamaica, together turn on the Cold Fog Machine for the first time after it was handed over to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo on November 6. Sharing in the moment are (from left) Nakhlé Hado, Distribution Services & Fisheries Director at FFP Jamaica and Dr. Andrew Trawford, Executive Director of Hope Zoo.

HOPE ZOO GETS COLD FOG MACHINE FROM FFP

For Immediate Release

Kingston, Jamaica – November 6, 2014: Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo has received a Cold Fog Machine from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, which will be used to reduce the temperature of the zoo’s environment which sometimes cause challenges for its animal residents and visitors.

The handover of the Cold Fog Machine was conducted on November 5 on the grounds of the Zoo. There, David Mair, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, officially handed over the equipment to Dr. Kenny Benjamin, Executive Chairman of Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation and Dr. Andrew Trawford, Executive Director, Hope Zoo.

Dr. Benjamin expressed gratitude to Mr. Mair for FFP’s gift of the Cold Fog Machine.

“We are very grateful for the machine. It’s a most welcomed gift from Food For The Poor. It’s multifunctional and we will use it to cool down areas where some of the animals are getting too hot, and it also brings down the temperature around and that is very good for the plants. Some of the animals that we have are not accustomed to this very hot weather, so, every now and again when it gets very hot, we will use the machine and just fog the area,” Dr. Benjamin said in his response immediately after receiving the equipment.

Also responding on behalf of Hope Zoo, Dr. Trawford said, “It’s a great asset and we really appreciate it. It’s not only for the benefit of the animals, but also for the restaurant facilities here, whose customers will benefit too from the cool environment the cold fog machine will create.”

Mr. Mair, in his address, said the Zoo was chosen for this machine because the charity organisation was concerned about how Jamaica’s year-round warm climate affected some of the animals.

“Food For The Poor is indeed thrilled to be able to make this contribution to assist in the restoration process of Hope Zoo and remains committed to the development of Jamaica in whatever way we can,” Mr. Mair said.

For more information, please contact:

Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 3756136

ENJOYING THE FOG: After the official handing over of the new Cold Fog Machine to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo, (from left) Dr. Kenny Benjamin, Executive Chairman of Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation; David Mair, Executive Director of Food For The Poor Jamaica and Dr. Andrew Trawford, Executive Director of Hope Zoo enjoy the cold air emission from the machine.

HOPE ZOO‘S NEW FOGGING MACHINE: A section of the new Cold Fog Machine which Food For The Poor donated to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo recently.

FOGGING AT HOPE ZOO: The new Cold Fog Machine donated to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo emitting cold air for the first time on the plants following the handover by Food For The Poor on November 5.

COLD FOG MACHINE: Dr. Kenny Benjamin (right), Executive Chairman of Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation and David Mair, Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, together turn on the Cold Fog Machine for the first time after it was handed over to Hope Botanical Gardens & Zoo on November 6. Sharing in the moment are (from left) Nakhlé Hado, Distribution Services & Fisheries Director at FFP Jamaica and Dr. Andrew Trawford, Executive Director of Hope Zoo.

CORPORATE HANDS LOOKING BACK AND RECOGNISING PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA

KIND HEARTS, GOOD DEEDS - The Gleaner - November 6, 2014

In 2012, Kind Hearts pledged to collaborate with Food For The Poor's Jamaica 50 campaign to build and refurbish 50 basic schools across Jamaica over a 50-month period. The young charity is sponsoring the completion of five schools in five years.

This was featured in Corporate Hands of The Gleaner.

NEW EQUIPMENT FOR ST ANN'S BAY HOSPITAL - Jamaica Observer - October 27, 2014

The Rotary Club of Pinehurst from out of the United States in partnership with Rotary Club of Ocho Rios, the Gran Bahia Principe Hotel, Sandals Group and Food For The Poor have donated equipment valued at US$67, 389 to St Ann's Bay Regional Hospital. The equipment was handed over at a ceremony recently held at the institution. Here Douglas Moore, director of International Projects of the Rotary Club of Pinehurst (fourth left) makes the presentation to medical and administrative staff of the hospital.