NEW GREENHOUSE FOR MANNING'S SCHOOL - Jamaica Observer - February 25, 2015

By AINSWORTH MORRIS
Environment Watch writer

Earlier this month, Food for The Poor (FFP) and the Digicel Foundation officially handed over a newly renovated 1,500-square-foot greenhouse - valued at $1.18 million - to Manning's School in Westmoreland.

The greenhouse - which was built last year - houses crops such as sweet pepper and tomato used in the agricultural science modules of the school's curriculum.

The FFP Executive Director David Mair expressed surprise at the volume of crops yielded by the students since the start of the academic year, considering the modules were being threatened by the dilapidated state of the greenhouse.

“Having a new greenhouse means students can utilize more innovative methods of producing crops by using advancing technologies in agriculture. Additionally, producing crops in a controlled location will ultimately enhance the income generating arm of the institution while embracing self-sufficiency,” Mair highlighted.

He lauded Digicel Foundation's participation in the project, saying: “The handing over of this renovated 1,500 square ft greenhouse to Manning’s School, a partnership with Digicel Foundation, is yet another demonstration of ‘alone we can do so little but together we can do so much more'.”

Richard Washington, head of the Agriculture Department at the school, believes the greenhouse will encourage his students to not only grow their own crops, but become budding entrepreneurs.

“This greenhouse will really expose students to new and advanced technology used in agriculture. This will teach students to use limited space to maximise production in a small area. It will also allow the students to learn the business of agriculture, preparing business plans and budgets. We have students who have already begun giving their parents, who are small farmers, advice on harvesting and production,” says Washington.

TThe greenhouse comes equipped with 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.Additionally, there is a shade house as well as an animal production unit for goats, rabbits and poultry.

Digicel Foundation's Chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin views the development as an income- and skill-generating initiative which allows the school to purchase produce from the greenhouse at a subsidised rate to help offset operational expenses, while doubling as a training facility for farmers in the community.

“This is no ordinary project,” Lowrie-Chin said. “Students who will be impacted directly will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to further advance this innovative practice. The Digicel Foundation is proud to partner with ambitious Jamaicans like you because it is from the firm foundation established here that we will be able to thrive as a nation.”

The greenhouse is expected to impact over 1,800 students to new technologies in agriculture.

Manning’s boasts a 100 per cent pass rate in agricultural science at the CSEC level. This comes as no surprise from a school whose tradition in agriculture dates back to 1887.

WORKING! WORKING! WORKING! Students of the agriculture programme at Manning’s School doing a demonstration of how they sow seeds during the official handing over ceremony for their renovated greenhouse to the school.

HOW LOVELY: Student Taylor McKenzie (left) and Patrice Smith-Sterling, grants & finance specialist, Digicel Foundation, admire crops growing inside the recently renovated greenhouse at Manning’s School, following the official handover on February 17.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regional/Manning-s-School-gets-new-greenhouse_18471093

MANNING'S AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME GETS RENOVATED GREENHOUSE - Loop Jamaica - February 20, 2015

The newly renovated greenhouse at the Manning’s School will impact over 1,800 students through new technologies in agriculture.

Providing a revitalising boost to the Westmoreland-based institution’s agriculture programme, the greenhouse will reap success for budding entrepreneurs. “This greenhouse will really expose students to new and advanced technology used in agriculture,” said Richard Washington, Head of the school’s Agriculture Department.

Manning’s boasts a 100 per cent pass rate in agricultural science at the C-SEC level. This comes as no surprise from a school whose tradition in agriculture dates back to 1887.

“This will teach students to use limited space to maximise production in a small area,” Washington added. “It will also allow the students to learn the business of agriculture, preparing business plans and budgets. We have students who have already begun giving their parents, who are small farmers, advice on harvesting and production.”

The 1,500 square feet greenhouse was renovated through a partnership between the Digicel Jamaica Foundation and Food for the Poor Jamaica. It comes equipped with 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.

This development will allow the school to purchase produce at a subsidised rate, offsetting operational expenses.

Strengthening the capacity of Jamaicans to establish sustainable social enterprise projects such as these is the role of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation said Chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin.

“This is no ordinary project,” Lowrie-Chin said. “Students who will be impacted directly will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to further advance this innovative practice. The Digicel Foundation is proud to partner with ambitious Jamaicans like you because it is from the firm foundation established here that we will be able to thrive as a nation.”

The greenhouse is the latest addition to Manning’s agriculture department, which consists of a shade house as well as an animal production unit for goats, rabbits and poultry.

Loop News Service

http://loopjamaica.com/2015/02/20/jamaica-news-community-mannings-agriculture-programme-gets-renovated-greenhouse/

PAVING THE WAY FOR SUSTAINABILITY - Jamaica Observer - February 23, 2015

NEW GREENHOUSE FOR MANNING’S SCHOOL: Taylor McKenzie (third right), Top Performing Student in the Caribbean Region in Agricultural Science, lifts the bow which was cut to signalthe official handover of the renovated greenhouse to the school. Sharing in the moment are (from left): Richard Washington, head of the school’s agricultural department; Megan Berry, acting principal, Manning’s School; Jean Lowrie-Chin, Chairman, Digicel Foundation; David Mair, Executive Director, Food For The Poor Jamaica and Javon Johnson, student.

Jean LOWRIE-CHIN

AS we examined the healthy vegetables grown by students in the greenhouse at Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last Tuesday, as we listened to the young singers and dramatists; we saw the bright promise of Jamaica. With their fine tradition of excellence and discipline, Jamaica's first high school has produced brilliant graduates who have been making their mark on their country and beyond. These include Food for the Poor board director, attorney-at-law Debbie-Ann Gordon Crawford and Member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland Dwayne Vaz, who attended the function for the handover of the greenhouse by the Digicel Foundation and Food for the Poor.

The 1,500-square-foot greenhouse is a promising social enterprise which will supply the school canteen and market products to surrounding communities. The parish of Westmoreland has a rich agricultural heritage, built by hard-working farmers of generations past, and with the guidance of their fine teachers and farming technology. The students are poised for a great future. Manning's boasts the top 2014 CSEC achiever in the entire Caribbean region for agricultural science, Taylor McKenzie. The articulate Taylor assured us that she is staying on track, now doing environmental science as one of her CAPE subjects.

If our tourism industry continues on its upwards path, folks like young Taylor will have good prospects for prosperity. In Negril, we saw packed restaurants and visitors lining up to be seated. We hope there will be strong collaboration between the ministries of agriculture and tourism to ensure that we can replace imported food with our better-tasting, locally grown produce.

On our journey across the island, we saw many tracts of idle, overgrown land and recalled the slogan of the 70s about joining idle hands with idle lands. Let us hope the authorities will show some more muscle to get smarter agricultural projects going. As the political parties move into election mode, they should be aware that nothing speaks louder than sustainable results in one's division or constituency.

This $641-billion budget, which the taxpayers of this country must shoulder, had better be spent as wisely as possible. I believe if our

long-suffering government workers are given their increase and the right leadership, they could help make our government ministries more result-oriented and help to boost national productivity. It will require a new resolve on the part of the authorities to ensure that good governance will prevail in our ministries and parish councils.

MPs and councillors from both sides of the fence must know that there is too much poverty and deprivation in our country for anyone to be expending so much time on power struggles within and between political parties. Let your arguments be on who is creating the best opportunities for citizens to advance. Media folks receive a preponderance of press releases about party meetings and fund-raising events. How wonderful it would be if these advisories were more about development and less about party matters.

Revealing 'Walk Across Jamaica'
This concern about underdevelopment was borne out by a press release we received from the organiser of the 'One Love, One Step Walk Across Jamaica', Dee Kyne. Beginning on Saturday, January, 31, the three-week walk involved people from Jamaica, United States, Ireland, Germany, United Kingdom, and Finland. About their observations on their journey from Morant Point in St Thomas to Negril in Westmoreland, Kyne noted: "On taking the pulse of interior Jamaica, the heartbeat of Jamaica is strong and kind and nothing but loving. However, hope is low, and people feel oppressed.

"The people of Jamaica are despondent and cannot see any benefit from their government, whatever its persuasion...Having worked all over the world I have never witnessed such despondency. Many see investment and people from other countries as having more interest in them; they no longer trust their own, and the theme that has been rising is a burning need for unity."

She continued: "There is total irritation in the countryside about rubbish and we were shocked by the levels of rubbish there are in every hedgerow that we passed. The worst road we actually witnessed on the walk; so far was Red Hills to Sligoville. It is a dumping ground for all who pass; nappies, bottles, food boxes, even coconuts -- hundreds of them in plastic bags, no ability to biodegrade...Many communities receive no rubbish collection at all."

Kyne said she saw "sharp differences parish to parish: Walking from St Thomas to St Andrew is a shocking indictment on development. As we crossed the line from one parish to another it was as if we walked through an invisible veil. On one side, there were roads (St Andrew) and very few board houses, and on the other there were no roads and many board houses. I could visibly see the population's frustration and I was sad to see this."

Farewell, Norma Chang
We said goodbye to a unique philanthropist last week. For over 40 years Norma Chang was recognised as one of the most ardent workers and givers for the St Vincent De Paul Society which assists the poor. Norma worked with her colleagues at Stella Maris Church to establish a homework centre at "Big Yard" in Grant's Pen and became fully involved in the community. She was constantly assisting with housing, health and education, not with a spirit of sacrifice, but with one of joy. She loved the folks in Grant's Pen and they loved her back, ever protective of her and her colleagues Shirley Chung, Anne Marie Thomas, and Peter Mais, co-founder of the Stella Maris Foundation.

In a message read at her funeral, Peter Mais said: "When I moved to Stella Maris I fell under Norma's influence and learned the true spirit of charity. In the Acts of the Apostles it is written (Acts 1: 1) that "Jesus began to do and to teach". Like Jesus, Norma taught and she did. I learned how to truly absorb myself into the lives of the families assigned to me, both spiritually and materially, and ever since then I have looked at the needs of the poor in a different light."

Peter noted: "She carried her spirit of commitment into the Grant's Pen community and the surrounding areas which, as a part of the wider Stella Maris church community, were not effectively being ministered to. Norma ministered to them long before the Foundation was born. She was a true inspiration."

Norma and her late husband, Wilfred, have been celebrated by church and family as models of altruism and active Christian faith. Our condolence to their loving niece Donna Muirhead, whom they raised as their own daughter, and other family members.

30th anniversary of Woman Inc
Chair of Woman Inc, Joyce Hewett, reminded me that this compassionate organisation is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The valiant volunteers who keep this organisation going have brought comfort to victims of rape, incest, domestic crisis, sexual harassment at the workplace, and domestic violence. They run a Crisis Centre, a Crisis Shelter, a 24-hour Hotline, and an ongoing public education programme. Congratulations, Woman Inc!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Paving-the-way-for-sustainability_18443279

David Mair (left), Executive Director, Food For The Poor Jamaica and Jean Lowrie-Chin, Chairman, Digicel Foundation, admiring crops produced in the greenhouse that was renovated at Manning's School.

FIFTY SCHOOLS TO BE UPGRADED - The Gleaner - February 19, 2015

Minister Thwaites.

Fifty primary schools will receive new and upgraded sanitary facilities by the end of May, as a result of the Food For The Poor, and the Ministry of Education's sanitary upgrade project. The initiative, which was officially launched recently at the Bois Primary School in St Catherine, is also being funded by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation.

Andrew Mahfood, chairman of Food For The Poor, said the project will provide low-cost solutions to upgrade sanitary blocks in schools through the construction of concrete toilet facilities. He further noted that the project has adopted the organisation's Flush for Life objective, which was implemented years ago to remove pit latrines from schools in Jamaica.

"Through the Flush for Life project, we replaced pit latrines in approximately 40 schools with the help of corporate Jamaica and the JNBS Foundation. That sanitation project impacted thousands of lives, and we are now pleased to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and JNBS Foundation to continue delivering low-cost solutions by upgrading sanitary conveniences in primary schools," Mahfood said.

Ronald Thwaites, minister of education, endorsed the initiative as one that contributes to the overall learning environment for students, and a move by the Government to demonstrate its commitment to the eradication of pit latrines at schools.

ELIMINATING PIT TOILETS

"Two years ago, the prime minister said to me that wherever possible, I should find the resources and partners to make sure that we eliminate pit toilets in our schools. This project is certainly a stepping stone for us to realise this mandate."

Contributing to the execution of the project with a grant of $6 million, Saffrey Brown, general manager, JNBS Foundation, described the initiative as a social partnership for the benefit of children.

"This launch is a demonstration of a socially focused partnership as we join forces to implement solutions to upgrade sanitary blocks for students, one school at a time, until we can say "mission accomplished". These upgrades will provide a safe and comfortable environment in which our children can thrive," Brown said.

Bois Primary is the first beneficiary of the sanitary upgrade project. The institution, which had pit latrines for six decades, officially opened the new bathroom facilities at the launch event.

http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20150219/news/news1.php

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT MOVES SINGLE FATHER TO TEARS - Jamaica Gleaner - February 14, 2015

Conroy Nelson is flanked by twin daughters Alicia (left) and Alisha as they show off their new house, which was donated by Food For The Poor. (PHOTOS: HORACE FISHER)

Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer

Some time ago, Conroy Nelson, in a tearful outburst, chronicled to Rural Xpress his difficulties caring for twin daughters Alicia and Alisha Nelson. The single father, who was then sharing a one-room apartment with the girls, also lamented the need for the young ones to have their own space.

In that emotional interview, he recalled that since the twin's mother walked out on the family, he was forced to play the role of father, mother, and breadwinner; however, with the full-time responsibility of caring for his daughters, earning an income was then a rare occurrence.

Today, 'Daddy Jonny', as Nelson is affectionately called, is again in tears ... tears of joy after his story unleashed an overwhelming outpouring of support for him. According to the fast-developing community mentor, Rural Xpress has swung his fortunes 180 degrees, with Food For The Poor leading the way.

"You not even know what The Gleaner has done for me. Since the story come out, my life has changed completely. We have moved from the one room to our own two-bedroom house. Thank God for Food For The Poor and The Gleaner," he said, smiling when Rural Xpress caught up with him at his new Effortville, May Pen, home.

"A lot of the everyday pressure has come off my head now since Big Sister (Beverley Mason) see the story and gave Alicia and Alisha an education scholarship," Nelson also boasted.

He said, apart from the house, the scholarship, marriage proposals, job offerings, and thousands of online well-wishers, other young men in the tough May Pen community where he resides are now using his experience as their own motivation and look up to him as a role model.

Mason, a higgler in the May Pen market, and Otis James, who managed the James and Friends Education Programme, heaped praises on Nelson for the exemplary role he plays in his children's development.

"It's not every day you find a father who is so committed to his kids' development, so when I saw the story, and James asked me to play a role in the girls' education, I didn't hesitate to take them under my wings," Mason told Rural Xpress.

Mason, who has five children of her own, also promised to continue her support for both Nelson's girls through primary and high school, provided that they maintain good grades.

"He has now become a positive role model for other inner-city fathers to copy ... and if we have more fathers like Conroy (Nelson), Jamaica would be a better place because the lack of fathers in the homes is contributing to the decay in the society," James declared.

rural@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20150214/news/news5.html

Conroy Nelson (left) and scholarship sponsor Beverley Mason (right) share lens time with Alicia and Alisha in Mason's shop in May Pen, Clarendon.

GOV'T UNDERTAKES $100 MILLION PRIMARY SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT - Jamaica Observer - February 13, 2015

Rev Ronald Thwaites (left), is assisted by a student of Bois Content Primary School in south west St Catherine, in cutting the ribbon to formally open the newly built flush toilet facility at the school. Sharing the occasion are (from 2nd left): General Manager, JN Foundation, Saffrey Brown; Chairman, Food for the Poor, Andrew Mahfood; and Member of Parliament, South West St Catherine, Everald Warmington; along with other students of Bois Content Primary School.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Ministry of Education has embarked on a $100 million project aimed at installing flush toilets at primary schools islandwide, which currently use pit latrines.

The Primary School Sanitation Project, which is being jointly undertaken with charity organization, Food for the Poor, will initially target 50 institutions, where renovations will be carried out over the next three to four months. Work at the remaining schools is slated to take place later in the year.

Under the initiative, Food for the Poor has committed to constructing new sanitary blocks, which will comprise: water harvesting facilities and closets; toilets; urinals; and wheelchair access ramps, among other features.

Work has been completed at the first beneficiary institution, Bois Content Primary School in south west St Catherine, which served as the pilot, and where the project was launched today Friday (February 13).

An additional three schools are earmarked for similar improvements, which will be funded at a cost of $6 million by JN Foundation.

Speaking at the launch, Education Minister, Rev Ronald Thwaites, described the occasion as “a very important day” for the school and Ministry, as it signaled “a time of transformation for education in Jamaica.”

He said Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, “gave me a directive” to eliminate the pit latrines in schools and render them “a thing of the past.

“Today, we are in this place (Bois Content Primary School, which serves) as a stepping stone to the…other schools that we have contracted with Food for the Poor, to make these changes. We are beginning to realize that dream,” the Minister said.

BOUNTY HALL STARTS INCOME GENERATING PROJECT - Jamaica Observer - February 13, 2015

Curious children take a peek at the pigs at the site of an animal husbandry project in Bounty Hall last month.

BY HORACE HINES Observer West reporter

BOUNTY HALL, Trelawny -- In recognition of their responsibility to assist in the alleviation of poverty in the society, Food for the Poor (FFP) and the Bounty Hall New Testament Church of God recently partnered to establish an animal husbandry project in Bounty Hall, Trelawny.

The initiative, the brainchild of Bounty Hall New Testament Church of God member Mark Titus, arose from the need to create employment for several residents in and around the area, due to the closure of the Hampden Sugar Factory several years ago.

"As one of the oldest church groups in this region, we were always aware of the negative impact the closure of Hampden Sugar factory which was the source of employment for many of the residents in the area, and with no one else to turn to, the demand on the church increased," Reverend Dr Sonia Seivwright said at the recent launch of the initiative in Bounty Hall.

"We had to find a way to fill the gap, but while we have affected lives with the programmes we have in place, we were not satisfied that we were penetrating the entire area because of our limited resources, so we approached Food For The Poor, Jamaica, and they willingly came on board," she added.

Meanwhile, Deacon Ronald Burgess of FFTP, who noted that the charity organisation does everything "in accordance with God", expressed that they generally join forces with organisations to uplift the lives of the poor.

He pointed to the recent partnership with the National Housing Trust to build 230 First Step Housing units in the parish.

"We partner with persons and bring economic well-being to the people who are neglected by most people and also that people will become very self-sufficient and to be proud of what they do. And this is why we choose churches and organisations that will accomplish these tasks," Rev Burgess explained.

He added: "I want you to work with this project because we don't implement projects that die. Because where God is, it can only be successful. We commit ourselves to be always available to ensure best practice".

After a meeting between the church and the charitable organisation in 2013, the first phase of the animal husbandry project- the development of a revolving pig-rearing business -- was set up at a cost of $2million, donated by the FFTP.

The funding was used to purchase 15 young sows, over 280 bags of feed and a supply of materials to effect repairs to an abandoned piggery on the project property.

Currently, the number of piglets has increased to nearly 80 piglets.

According to project coordinator, Mark Titus, the piglets will be distributed in phases to between 20 and 30 residents who indicate an interest in establishing a pig-rearing business.

The beneficiaries are required to give back a female piglet after the one they got reproduces.

Other aspects of the initiative include the cultivation of cash crops, as well as bee and poultry rearing.

Meanwhile, guest speaker at the recent launch of the initiative, Davon Crump, CEO of Global Outsourcing Solutions Ltd, lauded FFTP for their efforts to eliminate poverty.

"I must commend international charity orginisation, Food For the Poor, Jamaica, for leading the fight against the scourge of poverty affecting our nation," said Crump, who is the immediate past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

(L)CRUMP... lauded Food for the Poor, Jamaica, for their efforts to alleviate poverty & (R)SEIVWRIGHT... we had to find a way to fill the gap

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regional/Bounty-Hall-starts-income-generating-project_18391408

2,000 COCOA FARMERS TO BENEFIT - Jamaica Observer - February 9, 2015

Michael Leckie (right), board member of the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers' Association greets Selena Kellier-Ledgister (left), manager for agriculture and fishing at Food For the Poor (FFP) after the organisation donated over US$4000 worth of farm tools to the association on Friday at FFP compound at Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine. Sharing in the occasion (from left) are two St Catherine farmers, Cerrieca Williams and Leroy Campbell. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com

TWO thousands cocoa farmers are set to benefit from the distribution of over US$4,000 worth of farm equipment, which was donated by Food For the Poor (FFP) last Friday.

The items which included, forks, tillers, rakes, machetes, and irrigation pumps were handed over to the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers Association (JCFA) during a ceremony at Food for the Poor compound, Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Selena Kellier-Ledgister, FFP manager for agriculture and fishing said that the donation represented and signified the organisation's continued support to help increase cocoa production in Jamaica.

She also noted that FFP was thinking of assisting the farmers in the future by investing in a nursery to bring more farmers into cocoa production.

"We are therefore interested in partnering with the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers' Association in areas such as the development of nurseries to resuscitate cocoa production and training in agro-business and best practices, especially in post- harvesting and processing," she said.

Board member of the JCFA, Michael Leckie, who accepted the gift on behalf of the association and the farmers, expressed gratitude to Food For the Poor for its kind gesture.

"This morning's handover of farm tools to the JCFA represents the second such gesture by this organisation that has distinguished itself as a friend for marginalised people in Jamaica, and small farmers in particular," he said.

"These tools will no doubt motivate them to continue to labour in the field, and to make their contribution to nation building and the achievement of Vision 2030, which is to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business," Leckie continued.

Meanwhile, Cerrieca Williams, St Catherine cocoa farmer, who was present at the handing-over expressed joy with the gift.

"I am elated with the gifts that we have got today, and I am sure that it will help us as farmers, not only me," she said.

According to Williams many cocoa farmers had given up on cocoa because of the price that they were being paid for the produce, but she said the association has helped to revitalise the industry and that the farmers were happier with the price that they now receive.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/2-000-cocoa-farmers-to-benefit_18359110

SHAGGY TO PERFORM AT FOOD FOR THE POOR BENEFIT GALA - The Star - February 4, 2015

Jamaica's Grammy award-winning reggae star, Shaggy, will perform at Food For The Poor's (FFP) 20th annual Building Hope Gala to raise funds to build houses for poverty-stricken individuals living in Pon Batay, Haiti.

FFP's 20th annual Building Hope Gala will be held on Friday at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

According to Robin Mahfood, FFP president and CEO, the charity organisation is elated that Shaggy has chosen to assist them in raising funds to help build permanent homes for people living in dirt-floor makeshift shacks - who lack clean drinking water and must walk miles to another community to fetch water from a well.

"Shaggy is a true friend of Food For The Poor. Thanks to Shaggy, the Building Hope Gala committee members, and the South Florida community, Food For The Poor is positioned to build even more homes to commemorate the gala's 20th anniversary," Mahfood said.

"The gift of a safe, secure home is a tremendous blessing for a family who lives in a crumbling one-room shack and does not know where their next meal will come from. A home offers more than shelter to a destitute family - it offers hope."

Since its founding 32 years ago, FFP has built more than 91,000 housing units for people desperately in need of adequate shelter. At the Building Hope Gala, attendees will be invited to make pledges for the construction of the houses.

Attendees will also be able to bid on additional silent auction prizes, such as electronics, jewellery, vacations, golf and dining packages at Boca West Country Club.

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150204/ent/ent3.html

BOUNTY HALL RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR INITIATIVE - Jamaica Gleaner - January 31, 2015

NEW FREZER FOR BOUNTY HALL: Selena Legister-Kellier (right), Food For The Poor’s agriculture and fishing manager, presents a freezer to Tameka Brown (left), one of the beneficiaries of the Bounty Hall Animal Husbandry Project in Trelawny during the official launch of the programme on January 22.

Residents living in the farming community of Bounty Hall in Trelawny and its environs are anticipating fresh opportunities to change their lives after the launch of an agricultural initiative from Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) in collaboration with the Bounty Hall New Testament Church of God, recently.

"As one of the oldest church groups in this region, we were always aware of the negative impact the closure of Hampden Estate, which was the source of employment for many of the residents in the area, and with no one else to turn to, the demand on the church increased," Reverend Dr Sonia Seivwright said.

"We had to find a way to fill the gap, but while we have affected lives with the programmes we have in place, we were not satisfied that we were penetrating the entire area because of our limited resources, so we approached Food For The Poor Jamaica, and they willingly came on board," she added.

The partnership was cemented in December 2013 with a community meeting involving members of the agriculture and fishing team from FFPJ. Since then, the international charity organisation has pumped more than $2 million into the establishment of an animal husbandry, including the purchase of materials to effect repairs to an abandoned piggery on the project property.

From the 15 gilts and approximately 280 bags of feed supplied, the project now owns almost 80 piglets at various stages of maturity. According to project coordinator, Mark Titus, piglets will be distributed in phases to residents who indicate an interest in establishing a pig-rearing business.

"It is all about the church taking the lead in empowering the young minds and empowering the community," Titus said. "We must seek to help those who cannot help themselves, but a key requirement is that each beneficiary must give back to the husbandry to create a revolving system as we strive for sustainability.

"Community projects like these can be complicated, but we are quietly confident that the management team (representative of several interest groups) we have in place for monitoring and evaluation purposes will ensure sustainability and total transparency," he added.

SUPPORTERS

Titus also paid tribute to support received from Tank-Weld Metals; businessman Davon Crump, CEO of Global Outsourcing Solutions Ltd; and Everglades Farms, who, since taking ownership of Hampden Estate, has been supporting several projects throughout the communities in the vicinity of their operation.

Selena Ledgister-Kellier, agriculture and fishing manager at FFPJ, says her organisation is committed to leading the fight to alleviate poverty.

"At Food For The Poor, we are focused on changing lives, especially the poor in our communities, and this project is a testimony of what can be achieved if communities come together for a common purpose," Ledgister-Kellier said.

Individuals have also benefited from the distribution of 100 broilers chicks, 20 bags of feed, and support equipment, and are now seeking to increase their production as demand for their produce increases. Egg production, bee rearing and the planting of several cash crops are being introduced in phases.

"I am grateful for the assistance I have received from Food For The Poor," said an elated Taneika Fisher, after being surprised with a gift of a brand new deep freezer. "The chickens and other items I have received have helped me establish a business, and this freezer will solve the problem of storage. I really appreciate it."

http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20150131/western/western7.php

FUTURE FARMERS: Young children from the community of Bounty Hall in Trelawny posing happily beside some of the piglets which were produced from the Bounty Hall Animal Husbandry Project in Trelawny.

HELLO, LITTLE PIGGY: Selena Legister-Kellier, Food For The Poor’s Agriculture and Fishing Manager, greeting a swine and piglets produced from the Bounty Hall Animal Husbandry Project in Trelawny during a launch ceremony on January 22.

NEW AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME FOR BOUNTY HALL: Food For The Poor (FFP), in partnership with the Bounty Hall New Testament Church, recently implemented an agricultural programme in the Trelawny community to provide employment and a sustainable source of income for unemployed residents. The project includes pig and rearing poultry and crop production. Here, following the official launch of the programme, (from left) Samuel Alworthy, a beneficiary; Selena Legister- Kellier, FFP’s agriculture and fishing manager and Mark Titus, project coordinator, observe a pigsty.

THANK YOU, FFP: Rev. Dr. Sonia Seivwright of the Bounty Hall New Testament Church holds a bag of peas reaped from seeds donated by Food For The Poor to the community of Bounty Hall as part of their agriculture programme.