FOOD FOR THE POOR SURPASSES 100,000 HOUSING MILESTONE - News Release - March 31, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
03/23/15

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 23, 2015) – Food For The Poor’s generous donors have built more than 100,000 housing units for destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America. The desperate living conditions of the poor inspired Food For The Poor to begin its home building initiative in 1985 in Jamaica.

Food For The Poor’s homes are well-built, safe and secure. These permanent homes not only benefit the families receiving them, but also provide much-needed work for local laborers. With the help of donors, Food For The Poor is on schedule this year to build approximately 8,000 housing units.
Food For The Poor donors constructed 7,367 housing units in 2014 and gifted them to destitute families. The greatest number of homes were built in Jamaica (2,057 housing units), Honduras (1,812), Haiti (1,774), and Nicaragua (1,594).

Special housing matches have fueled Food For The Poor’s ability to help change the dire circumstances of destitute families. Through the end of 2015, generous friends of Food For The Poor have offered to match any gift received to build homes in Nicaragua, Honduras and Jamaica. This means that every gift received to build a home in these countries will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

“The poor live in very dangerous situations and struggle with overwhelming circumstances every day,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor President/CEO. “It is difficult for many of us to imagine what it must be like to be surrounded by rain-soaked, muddy floors, and walls made of plastic on a daily basis. To escape a life of poverty, destitute families need a proper roof over their heads, clean water and sanitation.”

Click here to watch a photo documentary that illustrates the critical need for housing that exists in developing countries.

Dilapidated shacks made of scraps of wood, metal, plastic and cardboard offer little protection from the elements, insects and rodents. As a result, illness and disease are rampant, especially among those who are most vulnerable — the young and elderly. In addition, the poor who live in these conditions are particularly devastated by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.

Last year, Food For The Poor donors built then 4-year-old Maudiel and his family a new, solid home in Nicaragua. By replacing the family’s primitive shack, which was strung together with dried palm fronds and ripped plastic tarps, Maudiel can now sleep peacefully through the night. He no longer wakes scared when the wind rattles the roof, or worries that the rain will turn the floor into mud. His new Food For The Poor house keeps him safe. Learn more about Maudiel’s story here.

In 1995, Food For The Poor-Haiti began a housing program and began building homes in Cite Soleil. Since then, 11,068 double-unit homes have been built in Haiti, 5,015 of them since the earthquake in January 2010. These sturdy homes provide the poor with shelter, safety and hope for the future.
A gift of $3,200 will build a single-unit home with sanitation; a gift of $6,400 will build a double-unit home with sanitation and a water component. In countries like Haiti, where the average household has seven members, Food For The Poor builds only double-unit homes by combining two single-unit donations.

For information regarding Food For The Poor’s home building initiative, or to support the program, please call 954-427-2222 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/home.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visitwww.FoodForThePoor.org.

Jennifer Leigh Oates
Public Relations Associate
6401 Lyons Road,
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
954.427.2222 ext. [6054]
954.426.6857 (fax)
www.FoodForThePoor.org

50 SCHOOLS IN LESS THAN 50 MONTHS - Jamaica Observer - March 22, 2015

Veronica Baker, principal of New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre in Wynters Pen, St Catherine, and Dr John Buuk, a donor representative with Food For The Poor (FFP) cut the ribbon to officially open a new building for the school. Witnessing the moment are (from left): Reverend Bruce Farrell, the school board chairman; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman of FFP Jamaica; David Mair, Executive Director of FFP Jamaica, and the Very Rev Burchell McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay and FFP board member. (PHOTOS: PETRI-ANN HENRY)

FFP HANDS OVER LAST BUILDING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

VERONICA Baker, principal of New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre located in Wynter's Pen, St Catherine, is elated to have received the final basic school building under Food For The Poor's (FFP) 'Jamaica 50' campaign.

The new building which comprises three classrooms, an office, a sanitation facility, a lunch room and a sick bay, was handed over earlier this month by Minister of Education Reverend Ronald Thwaites, Dr John Buuk, donor, and Andrew Mahfood, Jamaica's chairman of FFP.

"Today, I am feeling blessed to have received the 50th building from Food For The Poor. I am feeling good because Food For The Poor has been there for us and has brought us out of a major struggle," Baker, who has been associated with the school for 36 years, told Career & Education following the handover.

She said the school, which was started by Carmen McLeggon 41 years ago in the community, was in a previously deplorable condition.

"We were located behind the church and it was not comfortable. When the rain fell, we had to move out, put up tarpaulins or end school before the scheduled time. When it rained, we had to be tucking the students together in an effort to not let them get wet. The students and teachers were not comfortable," she said.

Baker told Career & Education that with the new building, she envisions the school population growing every year.

"We see ourselves going further, getting more children and we will become better equipped to offer them the knowledge that they need to enhance their progress while transitioning to the primary level of the education sector," Baker said.

The new school building was constructed on the land where Carmen McLeggon lived before she died.

Minister Thwaites thanked FFP for fulfilling its promise to Jamaica, and more so, the education sector.

"I want to begin by expressing, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Food For The Poor for its continued support for education. Specifically, we commend the organisation for sticking to its commitment to build and upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months as a gift to Jamaica and Jamaicans for the island's Golden Jubilee," Minister Thwaites said.

"You not only said it, you did it! It is fitting that Food For The Poor has undertaken this project as it targets basic schools in communities across the island where the Early Childhood Commission and the Ministry of Education have identified the more dire needs for pre-primary facilities. This is in line with the Government's overall policy to lift up the weakest in the society," he said further.

For his part, Mahfood said his philanthropic organisation could not have reached the 50 schools in 50-month target without the assistance of local and overseas donors.

"Today, we can say 'mission accomplished!' However, FFP's journey in developing Jamaica's education system has not ended. We remain committed to our children and to constructing suitable structures for their upliftment. In this regard, under our ongoing projects portfolio, eight schools are currently at various stages of construction," Mahfood said.

FFP launched its Jamaica 50 campaign on June 12, 2012 as its gift to the nation to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary of Independence. The project was completed 18 months ahead of the promised 50 months.

-AINSWORTH MORRIS

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/50-schools-in-less-than-50-months_18587152

Students enrolled at New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre play on the new see-saw.

Students enjoy themselves on the slide.

Students enrolled at New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre play on the new see-saw.

A HOUSE AT LAST - FOOD FOR THE POOR AND OTHERS RESPOND TO NEEDY FAMILY - The Sunday Gleaner

Yvonne Reid (right) and her common-law husband Earnest Clarke are all smiles as they stand in front of their new house.

Yvonne Reid's wish to have a proper house to call home by Christmas last year was not granted, but two months later her dream of moving into a house that was not flooded every time it rains has finally come true.

Reid's deplorable living condition at the three-bedroom board structure she occupied with her common-law husband Ernest Clarke, five grandchildren and mentally ill son on Crescent Road in St Andrew was highlighted by The Sunday Gleaner last December, and several persons in Jamaica and abroad pledged to assist.

"I would just like a house. As you can see, this one is no good. When it rains, it pours in," she told our news team a few days before Christmas 2014.

Among those who responded to Reid's cry for help was the local charity group Food For The Poor (FFP) which, in collaboration with the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, started the process of getting her and her family a house.

Construction of the new two-bedroom structure started just a few weeks after the publication of the story and was completed in February. The family finally got to move in last week and is still trying to add their personal touch.

"I am so glad because most of all when rain falls now, anywhere I am I don't have to fret, I know that my bed not wetting and I know that the house not wetting, and nowhere not wetting; we have a dry house. If I am even in my bed at nights and rain start falling, the most I can do is cover up more, because I don't have to get up and lean up my bed or lean up my mattress."

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Reid, who had to take in her five grandchildren after her two daughters died, said she is happy that the children now have better sleeping arrangements. In addition to the two rooms, the house also comes with a loft and so the family has adequate space for three beds.

"Everything is nice! What we couldn't afford, other people come in. Somebody gave us a fridge, someone gave us a TV. We got a bed. All we really need now most of all is a little dining table that the children can get to sit around to really have them food, instead of having to sit on the ground or with them plate in their hand," she said.

The house also has a bathroom and kitchenette, and Reid noted that her grandchildren are so excited that they have started to make their own breakfast and assist with preparing meals. The family is also able to sit on their donated couch and watch television together.

Director of construction ser-vices at FFP, Ron Burgess, said that construction of the house took a while because they had to make sure that no one would come and claim it after it is built. Reid currently leases the land the house is on.

"We had to make sure the documents were completely okay, because we have had cases where we have built the house, only to hear somebody claiming it because we shouldn't have built on the land and all manner of things," said Burgess.

According to Burgess, it cost about $800,000 to build the house which is equipped with a sewerage system, a water tank and solar energy to power at least three light bulbs.

Yvonne Reid (right) and her common-law husband Ernest Clarke look at the delapidated structure they once called home.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150322/house-last-food-poor-and-others-respond-needy-family

A SOLAR-POWERED HOME FOR MANLEY - Jamaica Observer - March 22, 2015

Manley Fritz is seated in front his new home in Main Ridge, Clarendon, along with (left to right) Collin Henry councillor/caretaker for the Thompson Town division, North West Clarendon; friend George Brown; Florette Stewart, Councillor for the Chapelton division; Kivette Silvera, director of finance, Food for the Poor (FFP); David Mair, executive director of FFP; Annette Newman, welfare coordinator in Clarendon; and Noel Rhoomes.

BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE
Sunday Observer staff reporter
husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com

"You want mi turn on the light?" 71-year-old Manley Fritz said as he entered his spanking new home in Main Ridge Clarendon last Thursday.


Gone is the one-room

zinc-and-cloth hut once held together by sticks, where his only companions were two 'common' fowls and a goat. At night, when the cloth that formed his door was drawn, his companions were grass lice, rats and mosquitoes. Fritz had no modern amenities like piped water, electricity, nor toilet -- nothing to make his life comfortable. He slept on dried banana leaves for his bed, and had a fire lit in the middle of the hut 24 hours a day that served as light and mosquito repellent.

So secluded was Fritz's dwelling in Sawyers River Bottom from the rest of civilisation that there were times when he would fall ill and was left helpless in his hut, fearing that he may die before help reached him.

But last Thursday, Fritz was only too happy to give a tour of his single unit wooden house, powered by solar energy and consisting of a single bed, a table with a chair, a sofa chair, a set of shelves and a standing lamp.

The house was made possible through the intervention of Food for the Poor (FFP) after Fritz's living condition was highlighted in the Sunday Observer of February 22.

"Mi feel nice you know man," a smiling Fritz said. "Couldn't be better. I feel nice and mi can turn on mi light. Up here better, because is nuff times mi sick down there and is when mi suffer bad man come find me. Mi sick down there bad already until man had to carry mi out on pole (makeshift stretcher) to the main road."

Fritz said that the intervention of the Sunday Observer, along with all those who assisted in his moving from the woodland to his new home on the main road has changed his life for the better. Today, he does not feel alone and unaware of what is taking place in the world.

"Now mi can watch TV over Mr (George) Brown and see everything that is going on. That man direct, he is my helper at all times. I couldn't do that man anything bad," he said. "I went to Frankfield to enumerate. Ms Newman send a car for me and I went to enumerate. So I soon get my ID. I feel like a part of things now," Fritz said.

Annette Newman, welfare coordinator in Clarendon, said it took three days for the house to be erected and ready for the senior citizen to move in.

"We got in touch with Food for the Poor the Monday (after the story was published) and they sent somebody here the Wednesday, and three days after the house was built and he was able to move in," explained Newman, who was determined to get Fritz out of the condition in which that he had lived for years.

"We were worried that we could not find the material to build the foundation but then Food for the Poor told us that they would do everything. They worked around the clock. The day that they finished was the same day Mr Fritz moved in because he was waiting under a tree and as it finished we moved him in. They brought everything with them. Everything - light, furniture, everything."

Fritz's new house, erected on his property, is complete with an inside bathroom. However, there is no water in the community, and so FFP will also be donating and setting up a Rhino water tank which will supply the bathroom this week.

"All of our units that we build for our recipients are solar generated," David Mair, executive director of FFP, explained." There is a small solar panel on the top and two light bulbs inside that run off the panel. It has a small convertor inside and that's it. It's something that we have been doing for a little while now, and it's working out quite well for everybody. We have been using the solar panel for about three or four years now, but the water is an issue because there is no public water in the area."

Mair said that the house was able to be completed in three days because the organisation has its own contractors and they supply everything necessary to get the job done quickly.

He lauded the Jamaica Observer, Newman and George Brown for bringing Fritz's 'situation' to the public's attention, and the community spirit that has helped to push Fritz to where he is today.

"We want to thank the Observer also, because without you having this in the paper and bringing it to the forefront we could not act on it right away. We have to thank Ms Newman and Mr Brown who have done so much. Once we heard about it we stepped in. When you get stories like this and see how people have rallied around Mr Fritz and just lifted him up to where he is now, it is an inspiration to us as a country," he said.

"We need more people like these (Newman and Brown) because poverty is real and it is not going away. The only way we can get out of poverty is to help each other, lift up each other because Government have their problems and we at FFP have recognised it and our institution is pushing, but the people of Jamaica have that spirit where they are community-based. It really takes a village to raise a child, and it drives me to do what I do," Mair said.

Kivette Silvera, director of finance at FFP said that the single unit for Fritz cost US$4,000, while the double units which are more popular cost US$ 6,400.

"We build over 1,200 double units per year, which is a 100 per month across the island," Silvera explained.

But Mair said that the FFP cannot build a unit without proof of ownership or that the land tax is paid up, which was an initial issue facing Fritz.

"One of the requirements is that we cannot build the house for you unless you prove that the taxes are paid and that you own the land. That is one of the stipulations," Mair said. "You have to have that, because we have had cases in the past where we build the house and somebody else comes and claim the house, and the people we built it for could not get it. So we have to be very careful. We have an investigation team that does a very good job."

Newman also expressed gratitude to former Member of Parliament for NW Clarendon Michael Stern, who immediately took on the task of putting measures in place to assist Fritz when the FFP came on board. He in turn contacted councillor/caretaker for the division Collin Henry and Florette Stewart, councillor for the Chapelton division in the Clarendon Parish Council, who were both present to see Fritz in his new home on Thursday. She also thanked the people who paid the taxes.

"We want to thank the PATH programme because in three days I got him on it. I want to thank the community because they came and helped us to cook and do other things."

Brown, who is relieved that he no longer has to make the two-mile journey to take food to Fritz on a regular basis, said that he is happy that he is now living next door and he is able to do much more on his behalf.

"I feel good, good, good, to have him so close to me now," a beaming Brown said. "Sometimes we sit and talk at nights until very late."

Fritz enters his new home in Main Ridge, Clarendon, courtesy of Food for the Poor.

The place Manley Fritz called home a month ago. (FILE PHOTO)

NEW BUILDING FOR HILL VIEW EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE CENTRE - News Release - March 19, 2015

THE GIFT OF A SCHOOL: Thanks to funding provided by the Levitetz Family Foundation from the United States, students and teachers of Hill View Early Childhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, recently benefited from a newly-constructed school building with classrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, an office, a sick bay, a computer room, fencing and play equipment. Representing the Levitetz Family Foundation were Jeff Levitetz (second right) and his son Tyler (far right).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – March 19, 2015: Janet Jones, principal of Hill View Early Childhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, shed tears of joy on March 11, when Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and the Levitetz Family Foundation handed over a new school building to her.

At the official handing over of the school’s newly constructed building, Jones said she had prayed for years to receive a new school, to replace the former school building which was in a horrible state. Jones has served as principal for the last 16 years. Her mother, Cynthia Gentles-Dussard, started the school on April 30, 1962.

“We had a lot of challenges,” said Jones, in an interview following the handing over of the new school building by members of FFP and the Levitetz Family Foundation. “The roof leaked during rainy periods, so our teaching aids would get wet and we were forced to reproduce them which was not always affordable. Because of how bad the school looked, people didn’t respect us. They did not even see the need to pay the required school fee at times. It’s as if we were nobodies.”

“I was laughed at and rejected, but today I cry tears of joy for the new building! This is a real blessing,” said Jones.

The new school building consists of three classrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, an office, a sick bay, a computer room, fencing and play equipment, all paid for by the Levitetz Family Foundation.

Jones said the new building will help her three teachers to nurture and produce well-rounded students.

“The new school will help us in various ways. It is more user-friendly. The ambiance is cool, properly ventilated and the school now looks like a place where you want your child to be. The teaching and learning environment has been enhanced. The new building will also improve the children’s learning, especially in the technical areas such as computer technology, which our students were not exposed to before,” said Jones.

In his remarks, David Mair, FFP-Jamaica’s Executive Director, said the charity organization was pleased to know that the school they were handing over was in capable hands.
“I would like to applaud the efforts of the principal and all the teachers who have been providing quality education to their students despite their struggles,” said Mair.

He went on to thank the donors from the Levitetz Family Foundation, who funded the new building.
“It would be remiss of me to not inform you that Food For The Poor’s relationship with the Levitetz Family Foundation did not commence today. In fact, it started back in 2013 when the Foundation funded the construction of Steerfield Basic School in St. Ann, Jamaica, and in 2014, with the construction of Halkers Hall and Planters Hall Basic Schools in St. Catherine, Jamaica. This makes a total of four schools to have been donated by the Foundation so far to Jamaica,” said Mair.

In response, Jeff Levitetz, President of the Levitetz Family Foundation, said, “Our support is a demonstration of just how much we care about the local community. You are like our extended family. Ms. Jones has been a wonderful custodian of this institution. Of the 50 charities that we donate to as a Foundation, this is probably my favourite. In fact, we hope to donate at least 10 more schools in the near future. We thank all of you for being here and for being so excited about your children’s future. May God bless all of you!”

-end-

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm. Tel: 926-6740 or 375-6136
Petri-Ann Henry, Public Relations Officer, Food For The Poor Jamaica. Cel: 564-2886

NEW SCHOOL FOR HILL VIEW EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE CENTRE: Sharing in the ribbon cutting exercise for the new building for Hill View Early Chldhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, on March 11 were (from left): Kim Mahfood from Food For The Poor (FFP) Inc; David Mair, Executive Director of FFP Jamaica; Janet Jones, principal; Tyler Levitetz and his father Jeff of the Levitetz Family Foundation and Rudyard Mears, Caretaker for South West St. Catherine along with students and teachers from the institution.

THANK YOU, FFP: All eyes were focused on these students from Hill View Early Childhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, as they performed during the handing over of the new school building on March 11. Fully engaged in the performance are (from left) Janet Jones, principal; Tyler Levitetz and his father Jeff from the Levitetz Family Foundation; David Mair, Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, and FFP Inc.’s Kim Mahfood and Susan James-Casserly (both standing).

THANK YOU, LEVITETZ FAMILY FOUNDATION: Janet Jones, principal of Hill View Early Childhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, is moved to tears as she presents a plaque to Jeff Levitetz, President and Director of the Levitetz Family Foundation, which funded the new school building, during the handing over ceremony on March 11.

THE GIFT OF A SCHOOL: Thanks to funding provided by the Levitetz Family Foundation from the United States, students and teachers of Hill View Early Childhood Care Centre in Old Harbour, Jamaica, recently benefited from a newly-constructed school building with classrooms, a kitchen, bathrooms, an office, a sick bay, a computer room, fencing and play equipment. Representing the Levitetz Family Foundation were Jeff Levitetz (second right) and his son Tyler (far right).

FFP BUILDS HOUSE FOR TREDEGAR PARK DAD - Jamaica Observer - March 19, 2015

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS
Observer staff reporter

SPALDING HIGH GETS AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT DONATION - The Star - March 16, 2015

Erick Green (third left) shakes the hand of agricultural science teacher Clayton Bryan after handing over tools and equipment to Spalding High School. A group of agricultural science students share in the happy moment behind the soil tiller machine. (PHOTO: GEORGE HENRY)

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

The agricultural science programme at the Spalding High School in Clarendon got a boost on Friday when a number of farming tools and equipment were presented to that institution.

The items, donated by the 4-H Club parish development officer for Clarendon, Erick Green, included shovels, hoes, pickaxes, farm rakes and a soil tiller machine.

Green told THE STAR that the donation was made possible due to the collaborative efforts of his office and Food For the Poor. He said he is impressed with the interest of students at the institution in agriculture, hence the timely presentation.

He noted that Spalding high has been involved in a number of innovative farming initiatives over the years, and especially over recent months, hence the willingness to donate whatever equipment are available to help in improving what students and their teachers do in their agriculture programme.

Clayton Bryan, agricultural science teacher at the school, was happy to have received the well-needed tools.

"The tools will go a far way in enhancing farming activities for our students. The tiller machine, which we wanted to acquire for a very long time, will come in handy; and it will certainly enhance the mechanical aspect of farm machinery in agriculture among the students, who are already excited about the whole farming thing," said Bryan.

He added that students at the school are excited about agriculture and are willing to get their hands dirty as they acquire experience to further develop themselves as young farmers for the future.

He advised persons and companies to assist with scholarships for students interested in accessing tertiary studies in agriculture, as they prepare to take over from the older farmers who will retire within a few years.

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150316/news/news9.html

SIR PATRICK ALLEN APPLAUDS FOOD FOR THE POOR - News Release - March 13, 2015

THANK YOU, FFP: Governor General, His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, gracefully accepts a plaque with the details of the mission and vision of Food For The Poor, Jamaica’s largest charity organisation, from Andrew Mahfood (second right), Chairman and David Mair, Executive Director, on March 12.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – March 12, 2015: Today, Governor General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, met with members of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica at their head office in Ellerslie Pen, St. Catherine, to express his gratitude to the charity organisation.

“We really feel that we need to say thanks to you. We appreciate all that you do for the people of this country. We hope you will keep up the good work and that more people will come on board to support your programmes so it will be more sustained and sustainable,” Sir Patrick said.

He went on to reflect on the history of the charity organisation, and expressed how the committed staff members have expanded the dream of FFP’s founder, Ferdinand Mahfood, into more than what he had hoped for.

“I am very pleased to be with you today. I laud Ferdinand Mahfood, the founder, for allowing the spirit of God to lead and inspire him to start this organization. I am just dumbfounded at the expansion and reach of Food For The Poor. This organization has printed itself on the psyche of the Jamaican people so much so that when you think about a natural disaster, you think about the role that Food For The Poor will be playing in the recovery process. You have seeped into the system of Jamaican life and have gone to the foundation of where the rubber hits the road by lifting people to make their lives more comfortable and giving them an opportunity to advance. You are transforming lives!” he said.

According to the Governor General, FFP was the first stop on a list of local organisations he will be visiting, as part of “the social component of the vision and mission of King’s House,” to express appreciation on behalf of the nation for their contribution to nation building.

The Governor General also spoke about his ‘I Believe Initiative’. He said it was launched in 2011, “as a service oriented programme where we find pathways to assist young people to believe in themselves, achieve their objectives and serve their country. The three pillars of this programme are family, youth and education. Under the umbrella of the IBI, the Summer of Service (SOS) competition was launched with the hope to increase volunteerism among youth, while offering them an opportunity to pursue academic goals. It would be great to see our young people volunteering with FFP.”

In response to Sir Patrick Allen, Mr. Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, said FFP was privileged to have been chosen as the first stop on his list of organisations to thank for their contribution to nation-building.

“Your presence and message of thanks to us this morning is a motivation to us to continue to do what we can to help the less fortunate,” said Mr. Mahfood. “Our office would also be a good learning avenue for the youth in your SOS programme and we would be more than happy to accept them as volunteers with our organization. Your presence with us today is really thanks enough and we thank you for coming. We will also accept any request that we receive from your office regarding assisting persons in need. We are very grateful that you have joined us here today.”

-end-

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm. Tel: 926-6740 or 375-6136
Petri-Ann Henry, Public Relations Officer, Food For The Poor Jamaica. Cel: 564-2886

TO SIR WITH LOVE: Governor General, His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen (left), presents a plaque to Andrew Mahfood (centre), Chairman, Food For The Poor, during his visit to the charity organisation on March 12. Also sharing in the moment is David Mair, Executive Director.

30 PEOPLE RECEIVE BENEFITS UNDER INDIGENT HOUSING PROJECT - Jamaica Observer - March 12, 2015

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Housing in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Morais Guy (right), presents Resident of Cheswick, St Thomas, Carl Chambers, with keys to his new two-bedroom home, during a special handingover ceremony in the parish last year.

SIXTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Sylvena Swaby of Rocky Point in Clarendon is now a happy and grateful woman after recently receiving a two-bedroom housing unit provided under the Indigent Housing Project.

Swaby was among 30 Jamaicans in three parishes, who recently received keys to their own homes through the project, undertaken by the Government of Jamaica and Food for the Poor.

Swaby says that before she received her home, she was living in deplorable conditions, but "that's a thing of the past."

"I used to live in a little house and when rain fall I would get wet, and sometimes when the wind is blowing it's as if the top is going to come off," she said.

Meanwhile, resident of New Green District in Manchester, Donna-Marie Ball, also a beneficiary of the programme, expressed joy at finally receiving her own home.

"I am overwhelmed knowing that I had difficulty finding a place to live. Where mi used to live, is a good amount of us live together, and to know that the Lord has provided this for me, it's like a real blessing," she said.

"I want to say thanks first of all to the Almighty God, thanks to my MP, Mr Mikael Phillips...and all of who has put this through for me," she added.

Some 1,827 two-bedroom units have been completed through the project, 480 of which were constructed under the Hurricane Sandy Housing programme for people in the eastern parishes of St Thomas, Portland and St Mary.

The cost of each two-bedroom unit is US$6,400 (approximately J$736,000) of which the Government provides 50 per cent through support from the PetroCaribe Development Fund.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Housing in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Morais Guy, said that the initiative, in addition to providing shelter for thousands of Jamaicans, is providing stable employment for a number of masons, carpenters, plumbers and unskilled labourers.

"We have created employment under this JEEP-administered project and, to date, over 5,000 persons have been employed in the construction process. We are still currently doing 1,200 units per year, and as recently as December 2014, we have 30 beneficiaries receiving keys to their houses in the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St Thomas," he said.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/30-people-receive-benefits-under-Indigent-Housing-Project_18545604

THE SUNWING FOUNDATION ASSISTS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN JAMAICA BY COLLABORATING WITH HELPING HANDS JAMAICA FOUNDATION AND FOOD FOR THE POOR CANADA - News Release - March 6, 2015

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - March 06, 2015) - The first initiative of newly established the Sunwing Foundation will be the funding and construction of a new, state of the art school in Jamaica in collaboration with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food for the Poor Canada.

The school, which will be located in the Parish of Trelawny, near Royalton White Sands, one of the Sunwing Travel Group's exclusive Jamaican resorts, will bring a much needed, upgraded facility to Trelawny, and will be an integral part of the community.

Spicy Hill Basic School is the only basic school (early childhood education facility) serving the area within 10 miles of its location and is currently housed in a cramped and overcrowded local community centre without adequate classroom space, kitchen or bathroom facilities. There is no outdoor play area and the children and teachers are in desperate need of an appropriate venue in which they can serve the growing community.

Currently, during periods of rain, classes are cancelled as the roof leaks, and improper ventilation precludes the facility from keeping the windows open. The new school will eliminate this issue, providing students and faculty the necessary environment to attend daily classes, and parents the peace of mind that their children are in a safe and sanitary facility.

At the start of the new 2015/16 academic year, the Sunwing Foundation, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food for the Poor Canada will deliver a brand new school house and playground which will accommodate the currently enrolled 75 children and three teaching staff in a modern, healthy and well-appointed building.

The new school will be secure, and furnished with all necessary educational modules including desks, teaching materials, books, computer and printer, toys and playground equipment. Additionally, the school will include a separate area where children who are unwell can be cared for, proper water sanitation equipment and kitchen facilities in which hot meals can be prepared for the students.

"Through our operations we have developed great affection for the people of Jamaica, and it is very exciting to be able to assist the Parish of Trelawny in such a meaningful way," said Stephen Hunter, President, Sunwing Travel Group. "We employ many people who live in the area and want the children of their community to have the best access to proper and safe educational facilities."

Food for the Poor Canada is a charitable organization dedicated to providing both basic aid and sustainable development to communities across the Caribbean. It has been instrumental in building dozens of schools in Jamaica since the 2012 announcement of its Jamaica 50 Programme that aims to see the construction of 50 primary and early childhood education facilities in 50 months.

Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director of Food for the Poor Canada, said, "The Sunwing Foundation has been a wonderful partner from the first moment we began discussions. They want exactly what we do -- a new, state of the art school that not only serves as the first step to a successful education, but a place that brings pride to this deserving community."

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans by creating a world-class education system. Its Jamaican-Canadian founder, Karl Hale, first approached Sunwing with the initiative last November.

"It seemed like a natural fit, and Sunwing said 'yes' immediately," said Hale. "Everyone I've met at Sunwing is extremely community-minded, and wants to ensure that the impact they make extends beyond employment and economic benefit. They truly want to be a part of the communities in which they serve, and we are so proud to be involved with them, this project, and hopefully many wonderful initiatives in the future."

Construction will begin in April, 2015. For information on how you can participate please visit sunwingfoundation.com.

About Sunwing Travel Group
One of the largest integrated travel businesses in North America, Sunwing Travel Group is comprised of Sunwing Vacations, the leading leisure tour operator in Canada; Sunwing Airlines, Canada's premier leisure airline; Signature Vacations, one of Canada's leading tour operators for all inclusive package vacations and Vacation Express, a growing tour operator in the United States together with the Group's own travel retail businesses SellOffVacations.com and Luxe Destination Weddings. Blue Diamond Resorts is the Sunwing Travel Group's own hotel management company, an innovative organization that operates popular resort brands like Royalton Luxury Resorts, Memories, CHIC All Exclusive, and Starfish, across the Caribbean, Cuba and Mexico; while NexusTours provides destination management services to individuals, agencies, tour groups, corporate businesses and tour operators.

About Food for the Poor Canada
Food for the Poor Canada works in development and aid in the Caribbean and Latin America with a focus on Jamaica and Haiti, FFPC is an affiliated agency to Food for the Poor Inc. (USA), the largest international relief and development agency in the United States with programs of close to $1 billion dollars yearly and a 95% efficiency ratio. FFPC works with partners in the region and through 3 affiliated charities: Food for the Poor Haiti, Food for the Poor Jamaica and Food for the Poor Guyana - these organizations are in charge of project management and distribution of goods through churches, hospitals and schools, and community leaders that work directly with the poor. Please visit www.foodforthepoorcanada.com to learn more.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/3/6/11G035074/Images/StephenHunter-17647744729.jpg
Contact:
For all media enquiries, please contact:

Rachel Goldrick
Corporate Communications Manager
Sunwing Vacations
1-800-387-5602
media@sunwing.ca

Samantha Mahfood
Executive Director
Food for the Poor Canada
647 350 7269
samantham@foodforthepoor.com

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/sunwing-foundation-assists-early-childhood-171433791.html

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SCHOOL FOR TRELAWNY - Loop Jamaica - March 8, 2015

The Sunwig Foundation in Canada will be funding and constructing a new state-of- the-art-school in Jamaica in collaboration with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food for the Poor Canada.

The school, which will be located in Trelawny, near Royalton White Sands, one of the Sunwing Travel Group’s exclusive Jamaican resorts, will bring a much-needed, upgraded facility to the parish, and will be an integral part of the community.

The school is expected to be ready for the start of the new 2015/2016 academic year.

It will accommodate 75 children and three-member teaching staff in a modern, healthy and well-appointed building.

The new school will be secure, and furnished with all necessary educational modules including desks, teaching materials, books, computer and printer, toys and playground equipment.

Additionally, the school will include a separate area where children who are unwell can be cared for, proper water sanitation equipment and kitchen facilities in which hot meals can be prepared for the students.

“Through our operations we have developed great affection for the people of Jamaica, and it is very exciting to be able to assist the parish of Trelawny in such a meaningful way,” Stephen Hunter, President, Sunwing Travel Group said about the project.

Loop News Service

http://www.loopjamaica.com/2015/03/08/latest-jamaica-news-community-state-of-the-art-school-for-trelawny/

FOOD FOR THE POOR FULFILS 2012 PROMISE - The Star - March 9, 2015

Food For The Poor (FFP) has officially handed over its 50th basic school, fulfilling their commitment made in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's Independence.

The handover took place last Tuesday at the New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre in St Catherine.

BUILD SCHOOLS

On June 12, 2012, at the Jamaica 50 campaign launch, the charity organisation announced that it would build 50 basic schools in 50 months, at a cost of approximately $150 million, as its gift to the nation. The 50 schools have been completed 18 months ahead of the time promised.

Present at the handover of the 50th basic school was Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites and FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood. Mahfood said his philanthropic organisation could not have completed its objective without donations received from his local and overseas donors."Today, we can say 'mission accomplished!' However, FFP's journey in developing Jamaica's education system has not ended. We remain committed to our children and to constructing suitable structures for their upliftment. In this regard, under our ongoing projects portfolio, eight schools are currently at various stages of construction," Mahfood said.

PROMISE FULFILLED

Thwaites thanked FFP for fulfilling its promise to Jamaica, and more so, the education sector.

"I want to begin by expressing, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Food For The Poor for its continued support for education. Specifically, we commend the organisation for sticking to its commitment to build and upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months as a gift to Jamaica and Jamaicans for the island's Golden Jubilee," Minister Thwaites said.

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150309/news/news14.html

US$50,000 PLAYGROUND INSTALLED AT GLENHOPE NURSERY - Jamaica Information Service - March 6, 2015

(PHOTO: DONALD DELAHAYE)

The Glenhope Nursery in Kingston has received a playground valued at US$50,000 for the children of the State-run facility.

Through the collaborative effort of the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the United States based volunteer organizations, Embracing Orphans and Kids Around the World as well as Food for the Poor, the playground was installed at the facility by the volunteers of Kids Around the World.

In keeping with the mandate of the CDA to provide quality care for children who are under State protection, the agency has partnered with these non-profit agencies to supply and install a total of 50 playgrounds in schools and children’s homes across the island.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CDA, Rosalee Gage-Grey, said the donation of the playground meets one of the basic rights of the child, which is advocated by the CDA.

“Recreation is a right and play is essential for child development and (the playground) will help to stimulate the children,” she emphasised.

The CEO was speaking at the handing over ceremony, held at the Glenhope Nursery on Maxfield Avenue, today (March 5).

Free Hill Primary School in St. Ann has also received a playground, which is estimated to cost US$60,000.

Western Regional Director for the CDA, Eunice Scott-Shaw, pointed out that other institutions will be identified to receive the remaining playgrounds.

Embracing Orphans is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the CDA to care for children that are under the protection of the State.

Kids Around the World is a charitable organization that installs refurbished playground sets for disadvantaged children around the world.

http://jis.gov.jm/us50000-playground-installed-glenhope-nursery/

TAYLOR MCKENZIE, THE CARIBBEAN'S BEST IN AGRICULTURE, WANTS TO BE A DOCTOR - The Sunday Gleaner - March 8, 2015

McKenzie

Manning's School's illustrious history in academia was further burnished recently when 18-year-old Taylor McKenzie, a lower sixth-form student at the Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland-based institution, was named the top student in the Caribbean in Agriculture Science in the 2014 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations.

"I was happy about being the top student in Jamaica, but I was really shocked about topping the Caribbean ... it was such a good feeling," said McKenzie.

Agricultural science was one of nine subjects McKenzie sat last year, and she was successful in all nine. The list includes chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and English language. It is completed by information technology, principles of accounts, and office administration.

In 2013, she sat human and social biology and walked away with a distinction.

McKenzie is slated to sit five subjects - chemistry, biology, physics, communication studies, and environmental science in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations this year.

Despite her love for agriculture, young McKenzie is aspiring to become a medical doctor and an entrepreneur.

"I would like to pursue a career in medicine and at the same time create an agricultural business steeped in crop production and manufacturing, so we would be looking at canning and bottling products to satisfy local demand and export as well. I have not ruled out veterinary medicine, so it could be a factor," explained McKenzie.

She credits her paternal grandfather, Rupert McKenzie - with whom she has a wonderful relationship - with her passion for agriculture. He is a farmer of ground provisions.

According to McKenzie, she is not afraid of getting her hands dirty as it is something she has been doing for quite some time.

"I do some planting at home - tomatoes, peppers, ackee, soursop, naseberry, and mango," said McKenzie. "The soursop is really my favourite, but I do get a good quantity of ackees."

Her passion for agriculture has been enhanced by her teacher, Richard Washington, who heads the Agricultural Science Department at Manning's.

"Mr Washington is an excellent teacher. He taught me for two years. He is very hands on with the practical, so he makes it easy for you to learn," said McKenzie. "We have an excellent team of teachers here, and the agricultural science team is simply the best."

The agricultural science team includes Demerce Guscott, Shawna Brown, and Devon Callam.

Reflecting on McKenzie's accomplishment, Guscott was full of praises for her, speaking glowingly about her intelligence and her focus.

REMARKABLE

"She is a remarkable student ... she is intelligent, very focused and knows what she wants and plans how to get there," said Guscott. "Taylor is very disciplined and organised and a student of excellence."

For McKenzie, preparation is important for success in all areas of life.

"I usually try and get homework done first and then study. I learn from practising, so I believe in doing the homework so you can reproduce the information later when required. When I get home from school and clubs, I do homework then study."

McKenzie said she is inspired by what she believes is her innate ability from God.

"I am inspired by the ability God has given us to live, communicate, and to use our lives to be productive, brilliant human beings," she said.

The Digicel Foundation and Food For the Poor recently handed over a new greenhouse to the Manning's School, replacing an older structure at the institution.

McKenzie was among those present at the handover and believes the greenhouse is integral to the success of the agricultural science and environmental science programmes as well as the overall sustainability of the institution.

"The greenhouse impacts greatly on the students here ... we produce vegetables and these are used in the lunches at the canteen. It also gives students practice - transplanting, and other elements are brought to life - and so the greenhouse is an excellent boost for learning and sustainability as well."

McKenzie is the last of four daughters for her parents, Annette, a beauty therapist, and Trevor, a musician.

She lists her mother and father as dual role models. Loving, caring, determined, and hard working are adjectives she uses to describe them.

But it is not all work for the aspiring doctor/farmer. She makes time for clubs at school and is involved as president of the Spirit Committee, second-vice-president of the Leo Club, current affairs director in the United Nations Club, and treasurer of the Quiz Club.

The Spirit Committee (socially participating inspiring recognising and improving talent) is responsible for generating a school spirit, Spanish quiz, house competitions, and the annual sports day.

In her spare time, McKenzie enjoys playing badminton and lawn tennis, listening to soul music, going to the beach, and surfing the Internet.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150308/taylor-mckenzie-caribbeans-best-agriculture-wants-be-doctor

David Mair, executive director of Food For the Poor Jamaica, and Jean Lowrie-Chin, head of the Digicel Foundation, examine sweet peppers being grown in newly renovated greenhouse at the Manning’s School.

FOOD FOR THE POOR DELIVERS 50TH BASIC SCHOOL - The Gleaner - March 5, 2015

March 3 saw Food For The Poor (FFP) officially handing over the 50th basic school, fulfilling the commitment made in 2012 on Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence - to deliver 50 schools in 50 months.

This took place at the New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre in St Catherine. In his address, Andrew Mahfood, chairman of FFP, said his philanthropic organisation could not have completed its objective of building 50 schools in 50 months without donations received from his local and overseas donors.

"Today, we can say, 'Mission accomplished!' We remain committed to our children and to constructing suitable structures for their upliftment. In this regard, under our ongoing projects portfolio, eight schools are currently at various stages of construction," Mahfood said.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150305/food-poor-delivers-50th-basic-school

FOOD FOR THE POOR HANDS OVER 50TH BASIC SCHOOL - News Release - March 3, 2015

NEW TESTAMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE GETS NEW STRUCTURE: Veronica Baker (center right), Principal of New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre in Wynters Pen, St Catherine and Dr. John Buuk (center left), Donor Representative, Food For The Poor (FFP) cutting the ribbon to officially open a new building for the school on March 3. Sharing in the moment are (from left): Reverend Bruce Farrell, the school’s Board Chairman; Andrew Mahfood, Chairman of FFP Jamaica; David Mair, Executive Director of FFP Jamaica and the Very Rev. Burchell McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay and Board Member of Food For The Poor Inc. This is the 50th basic school to be constructed as part of FFP’s Jamaica 50 campaign.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – March 3, 2015: Today, Food For The Poor (FFP) officially handed over the 50th basic school under its Jamaica 50 Campaign to the New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre in St. Catherine, Jamaica.

The Jamaica 50 Campaign was launched on June 12, 2012. At the launch, the charity organisation announced that it would build 50 basic schools in 50 months, as its gift to the nation to commemorate Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence. The 50 basic schools have been completed 18 months ahead of the time promised to achieve the objective.

Present at the handover of the 50th basic school was Minister of Education, Reverend The Honourable Ronald Thwaites and FFP-Jamaica Chairman, Andrew Mahfood.

During his address, Minister Thwaites thanked FFP for fulfilling its promise to Jamaica, and to the education sector.
"I want to begin by expressing, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Food For The Poor for its continued support for education. Specifically, we commend the organisation for sticking to its commitment to build and upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months as a gift to Jamaica and Jamaicans for the island's Golden Jubilee," Minister Thwaites said.

"You not only said it, you did it! It is fitting that Food For The Poor has undertaken this project as it targets basic schools in communities across the island where the Early Childhood Commission and the Ministry of Education have identified the more dire needs for pre-primary facilities. This is in line with the Government's overall policy to lift up the weakest in the society," he further stated.
In his address, Mahfood said the philanthropic organisation could not have completed its objective of building 50 schools in 50 months, without donations received from his local and overseas donors.

"Today, we can say 'mission accomplished.' However, FFP's journey in developing Jamaica's education system has not ended. We remain committed to our children and to constructing suitable structures for their upliftment. In this regard, under our ongoing projects portfolio, eight schools are currently at various stages of construction," Mahfood said.

Both Minister Thwaites and Mahfood handed over the newly constructed school building to Veronica Baker, Principal of New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre.

Baker wholeheartedly thanked them.

"We are so thrilled and happy to have received the 50th school building from Food For The Poor as part of their Jamaica 50 Campaign," Baker said. "We had no school building in the past. We were behind of the church in a space that was not suitable for teaching young children. Now, we have a wonderful building."

Funding to build this school was provided by Hope Lutheran Church, Bonita Springs, Florida, and Faith Lutheran Middle and High School, Las Vegas, Nevada.

-end-

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm. Tel: 926-6740 or 375-6136
Petri-Ann Henry, Public Relations Officer, Food For The Poor Jamaica. Cel: 564-2886

PROUD PRINCIPAL: Veronica Baker, principal, New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre, rejoicing after Food For The Poor officially handed over the 50th basic school to her under their Jamaica 50 campaign.

HAPPY STUDENTS: Students enrolled at New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre playing happily on the new seesaw handed over, along with the new building, to their school on March 3.

RECESS TIME! Students from New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre playing during their recess on a new slide donated to their school by Food For The Poor.

GRATEFUL HEARTS: Students and teachers of the New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre expressing their gratitude to members of Food For The Poor after the school was officially handed over to their principal on March 3.

NEW FACILITIES FOR NEW TESTAMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE: A student of the New Testament Early Childhood Development Centre washing his hands in a newly constructed sanitation facility provided with the newest built school by Food For The Poor.

50 PRIMARY SCHOOLS SET FOR BATHROOM UPGRADES - Jamaica Observer - March 1, 2015

Students of the Bois Content Primary School celebrate the official opening of their school’s new bathroom facility with, from left in back row: Saffrey Brown, general manager, Jamaica National Building Society Foundation; Kathleen Jones, principal Bois Content Primary School and David Mair, executive director, Food for the Poor Jamaica.

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 Ministry of Education sanitary upgrade project.

The initiative, which was officially launched recently at Bois Content 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 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 stated.

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 from schools.

"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," he said.

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

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/50-primary-schools-set-for-bathroom-upgrades_18417295

PEACHES HENRY YEARNS FOR A HOME - Jamaica Observer - March 1, 2015

Abigail Reid, one of Peaches Henry's five children, scoops up the remainder of cornmeal porridge that was prepared earlier in the day for the family.

BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Sunday Observer Writer

AT 3:00 each morning, while many Jamaicans are asleep, Peaches Henry departs from her home to sweep a section of the Hagley Park Road to Bay Farm Road in St Andrew.

Henry, a 38-year-old single mother with five children living in nearby Waltham Park, does it with the aim of earning $8,000 each fortnight, which is used to provide for her household.

According to Henry, sweeping the streets each morning in darkness is not the career choice that she dreamt of having when she was younger. But it is the best option that has been presented to her since she lost her husband, Omar Reid, five years ago after he was shot and killed, and after the garment factory in the Kingston Freezone, where she once worked, ended its operations.

"Mi nuh have no other choice. Mi nuh have nothing else fi do but sweep road. I used to work at garment factory making baby clothes and gowns for hospitals, but since it close down, although I had the skill of sewing, I cannot get a good job, and this is what I end up doing -- sweeping the streets each day," Henry said during a recent interview.

In addition to finding it difficult to provide for her children, ages six, seven, nine, 16 and 18, from the $8,000 which she earns fortnightly from sweeping, she said that her greatest fear presently, is the house in which she lives crumbling one night while she sleeps with her children inside.

"I have been living in this house since I was 11 years old. It is very old. It belonged to my father, who is now dead, but I cannot afford to get a better house or to move out. The house it made out of rotten pieces of board and zinc which I am expecting to fall apart at any given time," Henry said.

"The board is rotten, very rotten. When di rain fall, inside the house have more water than outside the house. I have to set small buckets all over the house just to protect us from water coming in. If I don't do that, the beds will wet up. Right now, two of the children are sick, so I know it's not good for them. These conditions are not healthy. My greatest dream right now is to have a more comfortable home for me and my children," she stated.

Henry is just one of over 6,000 people currently registered on Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica's waiting list for houses.

According to Executive Director, FFP Jamaica David Mair, hundreds of persons on FFP's waiting list are lower-level employed Jamaicans like Henry, with skills, willing to work, but unable to secure loans or to save to build their own homes given the state of the economy.

"Unfortunately, the reality is that many Jamaicans on our waiting list for houses are employed Jamaicans who are desperately in need and living below our country's poverty line. Their income is too little for them to build sustainable and hygienic environments for their children, while sending them to school," Mair said.

Mair said that given the urgency to provide an environment that is hygienic for Henry's children, she has been pushed into the group of mothers who will benefit from a two-bedroom house which will be built for her from profits that will be earned from FFP's inaugural 5K Run/Walk.

"This is one of the reasons we have decided to host a 5K Run/Walk on May 9, the eve of Mother's Day, and during Child's Month. It currently costs our charity organisation US$6,400 to build a two-bedroom house for a family. In order to do this, and continue our mandate of 'Changing Lives -- Restoring Families', our non-profit organisation needs more financial support," Mair said.

"We continue to help the needy on a daily basis. However, if we could increase our donor base with the assistance and donation from corporate Jamaica, we could accomplish much more and help more families," he added.

Henry was recently visited by an assessment team from FFP and the dynamic group and FFP Jamaica 5K ambassadors, No-Maddz, who announced to her that she was selected to benefit from the 5K in May.

"I am thankful that Food For The Poor has considered to assist me and my children with a house. I am very grateful for all they have done for me already," she said.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Peaches-Henry-yearns-for-a-home_18472460

Dynamic Jamaican band No-Maddz and Food For The Poor team members pose during a visit to Peaches Henry and her family in Waltham Park recently. Sharing in the photo with No-Maddz are FFP's Relief Development Manager Marsha Burrell (left), Social Intervention Field Officer Myrtle Brown (fourth left) and three of Henry's five children.

Peaches Henry (left) expresses gratitude to No-Maddz for visiting and donating to her family.

Marsha Burrell (left), Food For The Poor’s relief development manager, hands single mother Peaches Henry groceries on behalf of the charity organisation.

Sheldon Shepherd, member of No-Maddz group, greets seven-year-old Abigail Reid, and her mother, Peaches Henry, during a surprise visit to the family recently when it was announced that they would get a house from Food For The Poor later this year.

(L)Abigail Reid, seven, smiles as she helps herself to a serving of cornmeal porridge & (R)Six-year-old Omar Reid is embraced by his mother, Peaches Henry.