ACT!ON Jamaica

Support Honey Production in Hanover

2013-08-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

The western Jamaica based Hanover Bee Farmers Association (HBFA) has turned to the crowdfunding platform iSupportJamaica.com in order to roll its beekeeping project.

HBFA is trying to raise J$390, 000 or US$3,900, which will be used to run an intensive training programme for 30 unemployed youth. The youngsters will be exposed to the theoretical aspect of beekeeping while zeroing in on more technical things such as box making. At the end of the two-month training initiative, the teenagers, who hail from varying communities within the parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover, will be required to participate in a two-week internship programme.

“It is remarkable what the Hanover Bee Farmers Association is trying to achieve with these youngsters. Many of them have finished school and have been unemployed for some time now. It’s going to be interesting to see how impactful a project, like this one, will be on the lives of the participants,” said Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the JN Foundation. She added: “What I like especially about this project is the fact that once the training has been completed, the teenagers are placed to work alongside bee farmers as part of their internship. This, I’m sure, will be mind blowing for them... as they’ll be able to apply all that they’ve learned during the training programme.”

CREDIBLE ORGANISATION

Hanover is known for producing some of the tastiest honey in the world. So it was easy for the Hanover Bee Farmers’ Association to develop a project of this nature. Back in 2010, with grant funding from the JN Foundation, the Association implemented a project that saw some 60 farmers, aged 18 - 80, recovering from the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Nicole. This speaks volume to the kind of work HBFA is capable of doing.

CROWDFUNDING EXPLAINED

So perhaps you’re wondering to yourself: ”What exactly is crowdfunding anyway?” Remember the Jamaican adage ‘One, one cocoa full basket’? Well... crowdfunding allows people, community development organisations and businesses to leverage the power of the Internet to raise funds for their respective projects and businesses. This video illustrates how iSupportJamaica.com a Caribbean-based crowdfunding website operates:

Donations made to this project will go towards training and the purchase of the starter kits for all 30 trainees, which include two boxes, a hive, and a smoke veil.

What are your expectations of HBFA’s beekeeping training programme? Share it on our Facebook page – and let us know…

Beefarming as sweet reward

Congratulations,honey!

Hanover Bee Farmers Association honour 3 for outstanding service

Farmers in Hanover get help with Bee Farming Project

JAA/JN Foundation to establish Road Safety clubs in schools

2013-07-08T06:22:00.003-07:00

Road safety clubs are to be established in 50 secondary schools islandwide, starting this September. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the move was signed last Thursday during the official launch of the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA) Junior Clubs In Schools pilot project at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston.

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites and Chairman of the JAA and General Manager of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation, Earl Jarrett, were the signatories.

The initiative, a collaborative effort involving the JN Foundation, JN General Insurance Co Ltd, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Foundation, and the Ministry of Education, seeks to promote good road safety practices within schools.

The clubs will also empower Jamaica's youth to become better road users and expose the membership to the practical and technical aspects of road safety through a combination of mentorship from professionals, presentations from agencies, and internal exploration.

Initially, the programme will be implemented in secondary schools, which are within proximity to crash hotspots.

Minister Thwaites welcomed the programme. He said that as road users, children are at risk, and by participating in the clubs, "they should be given every opportunity to develop that safety capacity, which will decrease their vulnerability".

He pointed out that this is even more important, given that large numbers of children attend schools that are considerable distances away from their homes and many of them travel up to 50 miles per day to and from school.

The minister expressed the hope that the issue of school transportation would also be addressed under the initiative.

Project manager at the JNBS Foundation, Roger Graham, said the road safety clubs "will attempt to support and advance road safety education in the schools and will seek to reduce the number of youth fatalities especially resulting from poor road safety practices".

He said the undertaking is crucial given that last year there were 18 male and seven female fatalities in the age group five to 19 years. He said projections are that child fatalities will increase by 17 per cent this year.

Graham said that through the youth-led road safety clubs, the aim is to advocate for the resources necessary to improve road safety and generate new ways and ideas to address the issues.

He said the programme will also increase awareness of career opportunities related to road safety, such as road engineering and construction.

"We are also going to seek to enhance the educational process by showing students how the lessons that they learn in class, the physics, the biology, are related to road safety... (by demonstrating) a more practical application of knowledge. We also want to include the youth as advocates for road safety and ensure that their voices are heard in relation to road safety and let them know that they possibly have the solutions to some of our road safety issues," he stated.

As part of the programme, a national symposium will be held to showcase the innovation of clubs in addressing road safety in their community.

Delivering Tools Towards Greater Renewable Energy Uptake

2013-07-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

As seen on CAPRI Caribbean's blog:

The Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) is leading a European Union (EU) funded programme “Frameworks, policies and instruments for mobilising renewable energy (RE) in the Caribbean” which aims to accelerate private sector investment in RE in the region. It delivers analytical and information tools to build capacity and accompany the decision making process in relevant sectors:

Caribbean energy consumers (SMEs, households), you’ll be able to use our Technology Assessment tool to determine and size RE systems to meet your energy needs, and perform a preliminary financial evaluation of your RE project.

Energy consumers, project developers, utilities and independent power producers alike, you can use our project financing database to search for and identify appropriate financing for your RE projects, large and small, (click here). You will also have access to information on incentives for RE investments in target countries.

Policy-makers, you will have access to our policy analysis tool to analyse the effectiveness of existing instruments for encouraging RE investment, and to help in the conceptualization and (re-)design of instruments and RE tariffs (net billing, feed-in tariffs), in accordance with the private sector bottom line - without penalising the consumer in the long run. We’ll also be sharing success stories, of what has worked in other countries having similar energy economies.

The main targets countries of the programme are Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and St. Kitts and Nevis, yet many outputs will be applicable for the Caribbean region as a whole.

The 3-year programme, start-date Feb. 2012, is funded by the European Commission under the African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Energy Facility II , and receives co-funding from the University of the West Indies. It has as its Associates: Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC); JN Foundation; Organization of American States (OAS); and Scientific Research Council-Caribbean Energy Information System (SRC-CEIS).

JN Foundation/JN Small Business Loans Ltd. share booth at Diaspora Conference

2013-06-16T12:32:00.002-07:00

The day has come! The JN Foundation will share a booth with JN Small Business Loans Ltd. at the 5^th Biennial Diaspora Conference that commences tonight, Sunday, June 16, 2013, and culminates on Wednesday, June 19 2013. The much anticipated event is being held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

Jamaicans and friends of Jamaicans from all over the world, come together every two years to discussion issues that affect Jamaicans home and overseas.

In an electronic release posted on the event website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade expects that the conference will be “Exciting, Enterprising, Educational, and Energising!” The site stated, “the event seeks to strengthen existing linkages and networks, and to build alliances for Jamaica’s development and standing in the world.

This year’s re-branded and totally revamped global forum, places special focus on Trade and Investment. It will seek to build on the legacy of JA50 by exploring specific opportunities for the Diaspora, to expand their business interest in Jamaica through increased trade and investment. Participants will also engage in discussions about ways to expand the Diaspora’s contribution to Health and Education in Jamaica, both as individuals and organized groups.

Conference 2013 holds special significance as it takes place within the celebratory period of Jamaica’s 50^th Anniversary of Political Independence. This 5^th Biennial Conference has been recalibrated to focus on Business, Trade and Investment, Philanthropy, Social Investment and Diaspora Diplomacy; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will unveil a new Diaspora Policy.”

The JN team is very excited to be a part of the Diaspora Conference and looks forward to interacting with our members who have travelled far and wide in order to participate in the event.

ACT!ON Jamaica: A Closer Look

2013-05-01T18:27:00.002-07:00

ACT!ON Jamaica is a volunteer programme established by the JN Foundation that encourages Jamaicans to GIVE BACK to their country. The JN Foundation believes in ACTIVE citizenship, and through its volunteer programme, Jamaicans are encouraged to TAKE ACT!ON in positively transforming their lives and communities.

What can our volunteers do?

When you become an ACT!ON Jamaica volunteer, you can participate in development activities across the island. These activities address some of Jamaica’s most serious problems in areas including:

Economic and community development;
Education and youth;
Health, security and safety; and
Arts, culture and heritage.

We will also give you the chance to use your skills in the specialised areas of:

Event coordination/management;
Marketing/PR;
Volunteer management; and
Administration.

What’s in it for YOU?

Apart from the satisfying feeling you get from knowing that you have helped to change Jamaica in your own way, you are also provided with to learn and have FUN! We want our volunteers to be the best they can be so we offer training in your areas of interest.

So, just how do you become an ACT!ON Jamaica volunteer anyway?

Collect an application form at any JN location OR visit www.jnfoundation.com to complete our online application form.
We will confirm the receipt of your application.
Once your application is approved, we will invite you to an interview to help us understand your needs, skills, interests and availability.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR APPLICATION!

Crowd funding: Does it Stimulate Urban Innovation?

2013-04-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

As seen on http://blogs.iadb.org (Inter- American Development Bank)

What do the following projects have in common?: A construction of a pool in New York City, the creation of a park for children with disabilities in New Jersey, the edification of a pedestrian bridge in The Netherlands, the construction of Colombia’s tallest skyscraper at 66 stories, and an urban art display. The answer is that all of these projects are private initiatives that are using crowd funding, which is a method for individuals to collectively pool economic resources to support efforts of organizations or people. If crowd funding is used to develop goods, then why not use it to build properties or other urban constructions?

Today, crowd funding is commonly used in urban settings for a variety of projects, such as the beautification of urban areas with a new installation, or as a way to repurpose a degraded space. Crowd funding isn’t a new idea for the United States or Latin America as there are examples from the end of the 1800s to the beginning of the 1900s of recreational installations, such as parks and museums, and other examples of constructions of essential and basic necessities, such as hospitals, which were financed with similar schemes. Unfortunately, this community effort in urban development has been lost over time. Many of these new crowd sourcing initiatives not only revive a sense of community spirit, but they also can open new sources of innovation in urban development.

Many supporters of crowd funding projects feel empowered to voice their opinion through a monetary donation. This accessibility and participation breaks the barriers of bureaucracy that are involved with planning at the local level. Despite these benefits, a skeptical city planner might point out that crowd funding might interrupt the established process of urban planning, which takes into consideration aspects related to the general well-being, and might be ignored with a community-only based project. For example, what would happen if a crowd funded project was in direct opposition to the long-term strategic vision of the city? It may be a risk, but I feel that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. The increase of public participation in the design of the city should be an objective for any municipality. I know that this type of financing can seem like a radical extreme of public participation, but I like the idea. The challenge is not only to expand this method of financing and participation, but to possibly use it with other interventions where the focus is social justice.

All-Inclusive banking comes west

2013-04-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller and Chairman of JN, Oliver Clarke jointly cut the ribbon to declare the new JN/Financial Services Centre at Catherine Hall officially open.

On Wednesday, March 3, 2012, the Jamaica National Building Society’s Financial Service Centre was officially opened at Catherine Hall.

The state-of-the-art centre, which will also accommodate JN’s subsidiaries, Jamaica National Fund Managers and NEM Insurance, is targetted to meet and serve the ever-growing financial needs of St. James and western Jamaica by extension.

As Jamaica National Building Society, the organization, which is the third largest deposit organization in the island, is in its 40th year of service in Jamaica. However, the building society is over 130 years old, having started as the Westmoreland Benefit Building Society in Savanna--la-Mar.

The Financial Services Centre has cutting edge features including touch screen ATM machines which instantly recognize varying currencies.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, who was guest speaker, said the new state of the art facility will be a welcome addition to the delivery of financial services for the people of Montego Bay and its environs as well as visitors to the island.

The Prime Minister said JN has been integral to the Jamaican landscape for over a century and plays a special role in contributing and improving the lives of its members, and will now add a new dimension with its ‘one stop’ JN shop.

BUSINESS EXPANSION
Mayor of Montego Bay, Charles Sinclair, noted that the opening of the corporate centre in Montego Bay, was significant for several reasons as it confirmed that the western city was witnessing an expansion of its business, trade and commercial centre beyond the boundaries of the original town centre.

Mayor Sinclair also said that most importantly, the fact that JN will be offering a wider range of services through the new 9000 square feet facility, shows that the city continues to be open for business.

He added that over the past 10 years, Montego Bay has experienced growth and an influx of businesses, thus boosting the local economy and providing jobs to its citizens while building the profile of the city.

Nina Chang, niece of former Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, is manager of the Centre.

Source: http://www.westernmirror.com/index.php/permalink/5458.html

JN expands in Black River

2013-04-15T05:45:00.001-07:00

As part of a strategic move to serve a larger segment of the growing micro and small business sector in St. Elizabeth and neighbouring parishes, JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL) has added a branch to its network in the parish capital, Black River.

The branch, which was officially opened on September 7, increases to three the number of (JNSBL)locations in St. Elizabeth where persons may make applications for loans.
Frank Whylie, General Manager, (JNSBL), explained that the expansion of the company’s network will allow clients to conduct business in a context that removes them from banking halls, which are sometimes crowded.

“Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and the Corporate Area are among the largest and busiest regions, where our loan portfolio continues to perform well,” Mr. Whylie affirmed, “our surveys also point to a growing number of entrepreneurs in these areas, who are in need of financing at favourable rates.”

Last year JNSBL disbursed more than 24,630 loans valued at $2.1 billion after it increased the loan amount under its BizGrow facility and reviewed its repayment terms to allow clients more flexibility when making payments. The company also added a loan product to cater to persons needs beyond their businesses, such as education financing, weddings, funerals and other personal activities.

Source: http://www.westernmirror.com/index.php/permalink/5758.html

Albert Town Primary and Infant to get J$31.6 million upgrade

2013-04-15T05:38:00.004-07:00

Some of 651 students of the Albert Town Primary and Infant school in South Trelawny, will soon be enjoying separated facilities which will permit the student body in each group to have an enhanced learning experience.

The project is being implemented through a USD 12.085 million loan to the Government of Jamaica by the Caribbean Development Bank, under the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), implemented Community Investment Programme (CIP). JSIF has budgeted approximately $27,578,365.65 for this project, with an additional $4,060,000 expected in community contribution, in kind.

The Community Investment Project focuses primarily on the provision of basic infrastructure in the education, health, and transportation sectors in rural Jamaica. The total cost is $31,638,365.65. Project completion is expected in four months.

The school was selected by the JSIF as there is a heavy dependence on welfare in the community, evident as 40 per cent of the students are on the PATH programme.

Works include the construction of an Infant facility complete with its own administrative and sanitary facilities, and including four (4) classrooms; kitchen; sick bay; administrative area; sewer and drainage; sanitary facilities ; and covered corridor. A play area with equipment (jungle gym, slides, swings) will also be constructed with perimeter fencing for the school 2.1m high.

Rhonda Lumsden-Lue General Manager of Human Resources, Administration, MIS, and Communications at the JSIF stated at the sponsor signing event on Thursday, February 28, that when completed, the expanded facilities will serve students from surrounding communities such as Stettin, Allsides, Boucher, Warsop, Dutch Hill, Buttup Town, and Wilson Valley with some students coming from communities as far as 11 km away.

She noted, “The facilities in the school are currently overwhelmingly overcrowded. Additionally, the students of the Infant School do not have their own bathroom or playing facilities.”
Currently, the Infant Department is housed in the same building as the Primary Department, which is also not recommended by the ECC.

The use of the same bathroom facilities by both the Primary and Infant departments is not recommended by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), due to the variance in specification standards for different age groups, such as the height of the toilets.

Additionally, the infant department is located the farthest from the bathrooms. The teachers have reported that often times the children have `accidents` before they reach to the bathrooms, because they are not able to reach in time to `relieve` themselves. The ECC has refused to grant certification to the school, due to their failure to meet the criteria regarding bathroom and other facilities.

The infants have no designated play area, and instead they play in the same areas as the older students. The areas in which these children play have huge stones, and are deemed unsafe for any child to play. The older children also tend to be more aggressive, and this poses a threat to the younger children.

It is to be noted that the absence of partitions and the overcrowded classrooms, also affects the learning process negatively.

Mrs. Lumsden-Lue noted, “There is evidence that this school has maintained high enrolment and attendance rates. The school within itself has been quite efficient in managing limited resources well.

They build the present toilets from their own efforts, and have done painting and other projects on their own.

“We commend the sponsor body, the Albert Town Benevolent Society, which has pursued this project as a priority. The Society is very active in the community, and this is encouraging when sustainability of the project is considered,” Lumsden-Lue stated.

Source: http://www.westernmirror.com/index.php/permalink/6023.html

SLOW IT DOWN DRIVERS!

2013-04-15T05:34:00.002-07:00

Jamaica has embarked on a ‘Below 240’ campaign, which is aimed at keeping the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents below the 240 mark for 2013. This campaign was revised from the Below 300 target, which was successfully achieved at the end of 2012, for the first time since its 2008 launch. But, with a number of accidents taking place in the island in recent weeks, this target could be missed. In that vein, the importance of road safety cannot be overstated.

The most recent tragedy occurred Easter Monday, April 1, along the Falmouth bypass (near Martha Brae) in Trelawny, and saw a family of four being victims in what was a four-vehicle collision.
Police reports to the Western Mirror indicate that the driver of a Nissan motorcar, who himself was a victim, was overtaking a line of traffic and crashed into a Toyota Fortuner SUV. His common-law-wife, and their two young daughters also perished. Fortunately, the other passengers escaped unhurt. We extend our most sincere condolences to the grief-stricken relatives.

Sadly, many Jamaican drivers continue to take dangerous risks on the roads, placing their lives, as well as those of others in danger. Speeding, in most cases, is at the heart of the many accidents on Jamaica’s roads. Far too many Jamaicans do not see road safety, as something that they ought to practice. This is a dangerous trend which must change.

In 1999, Jamaica passed a law which requires drivers and passengers to wear seat-belts. To Jamaica’s detriment, it is not being enforced as vigorously as it ought to be. There is enough evidence to confirm, that wearing seat-belts do save lives. Many motorists, particularly public passenger vehicle operators, have been seen overtaking around corners. These factors contribute to lives being lost on the Jamaican road.

Road safety is everybody’s business. Let’s make the below 240 target a reality, while making sure that much lower figures are attained in the future.

Source: http://www.westernmirror.com/index.php/permalink/6041.html

Jamaica in joint initiative on road crash data collection

2013-04-13T06:59:00.003-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (CMC) — Jamaica is part of an initiative to promote the implementation of best practices in road safety data collection in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says Jamaica has joined forces with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) International Transport Forum (ITF) and the United Kingdom to promote the initiative.

It said that a key component of the IDB's Road Safety Strategy for LAC is to support countries in the strengthening of their institutional and technical capacities in road safety via knowledge sharing.

The goal of this effort, referred to as twinning, is to help Jamaica align its road safety data collection to international standards.

"This is an important step towards the development and implementation of effective road safety policies, recommended by ITF's International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD)," said the IDB, noting that currently, road deaths in the Caribbean are high, with 20 per 100,000 habitants compared to the rest of the region, which is on average 17 deaths per 100,000 habitants.

The Road Safety Unit of Jamaica's Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing is seen as a pioneer, leading the way on road crash data collection in the Caribbean. Once the project is complete, Jamaica plans to share best practices and knowledge learned in the programme with other countries in the Caribbean, the IDB added.

It said the first module of the twinning initiative is currently being executed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) on behalf of the United Kingdom Government and has the financial support and of IDB. The main components involve a comprehensive review of how data relevant for road safety analyses are currently collected, stored and analysed in Jamaica, and how they are then used to influence road safety strategies and interventions.

Recently, more than 70 delegates from six Caribbean countries — Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Belize and Guyana — participated in a one-day workshop organised by the IDB to review the project.

The IDB said participants were presented with crash data systems and taught how to develop evidence-led road safety policies to reduce road deaths and the economic impact this involves.

The ITF, IDB and the Jamaican and UK government initiative is part of the organsations' commitment to the United Nation's Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to stabilise and reduce the number of global road fatalities by 2020.

"Currently, 1.3 million people die each year on the world's roads and approximately 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries," the IDB said.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-in-joint-initiative-on-road-crash-data-collection_14049894

Parents urged to look for early signs of autism

2013-04-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

PARENTS are being urged to examine their children's responsiveness and behaviour during the early stages of development in an effort to identify and treat any disorders, including autism.

The advice, from Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Maureen Samms-Vaughan, comes as Jamaica joins the world in marking World Autism Awareness Month in April.

The UWI professor, who was addressing a Jamaica Information Service Think Tank, said that "autism, at present, is the single commonest developmental disorder affecting children". The disorder, she added, affects at least one in every 50 children, and is more likely to affect boys than girls.

Additionally, she said, statistics reveal that an estimated 900 children are diagnosed with autism each year in Jamaica.

Professor Samms-Vaughan said "early identification and early intervention are absolutely the most important aspect of improving that child's life."

"We want you to take your child to see the health provider and ensure that the child is assessed because the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome is for that child," she added.

Professor Samms-Vaughan, who is chairperson of the Early Childhood Commission, said that autism is identified when the child reaches 18 months.

"The first sign that parents notice about their children is speech delay (which) can present in many different ways," she said, noting that the child may not be able to say the usual words like 'mama' and 'dada', make small three-word sentences, or speak at the required pace and later regress. Other symptoms include lack of social interaction with peers or family members and repetitive behaviour by the child.

She said that although the direct cause of autism is unknown, research has indicated that the disorder can be spread through genetics. Environmental factors, such as the presence of lead and mercury, as well as children born to parents over 35 years, are also risks for autism.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Parents-urged-to-look-for-early-signs-of-autism_14051899

Autism is more than 'being different'

2013-04-12T06:59:00.002-07:00

Dear Editor,

Last week Saturday, Emancipation Park was transformed into a beautiful celebration dedicated to those with autism. As the principal of Genesis Academy, a school that caters to young persons with special needs, I was overjoyed to witness the growth and confidence in the children who put on such a great show.

Still, it would have been even more awesome if more members of the general public had been present to learn about autism, as it impacts so many persons and families in our society. There are parents who cannot identify autism in their children because they are not aware of the signs, which are numerous and wide-ranging. The public must become involved in initiatives such as this that seek to promote awareness and create a healthy, uplifting environment for autistic children to grow and flourish.

We need to promote a greater understanding of what autism is about so that affected children can be identified early and receive the necessary intervention. We also become more caring and empathetic when we can view the world through the eyes of an autistic child. We were so moved by our young adult, Nicole Rochester, who spoke to the pain of just "being different". This is, of course, why the

Digicel Foundation should be applauded for its support of initiatives such as these. The Foundation partnered with the Jamaica Autism Support Association to put on the concert, and we know they have been making a sustained effort to assist the general special needs community.

I urge everyone to continue to spread the word, not just now while it is Autism Awareness Month, but throughout the year.

Donna Lowe

Principal, Genesis Academy

principal.genesis@gmail.com

Jamaican youth aiming to feed 5,000

2013-04-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

Hundreds to benefit from JNFM's passort project!

2013-04-12T04:55:00.005-07:00

Deaf but talented, bright and optimistic

2013-04-10T07:56:00.002-07:00

Ardently signing his hopes and dreams for the deaf community in Jamaica to the Observer, McDonald cut a picture of tenacity and drive, which the loss of speech and hearing only made more intense.

"When I found out I was deaf it really didn't mean anything to me, it's not much of a problem, I believe I can do anything except hear," he said looking almost cheeky.

Never mind that he never knew his father or that he is the "only deaf person in (his) family" or that his mother — his source of inspiration — died leaving him and his five siblings to carry on, his demeanour shows no bitterness.

"It was difficult especially after my mother died leaving five children," he confesses. Though the woman who gave him the will to shape his "sound" was gone, the lesson of no retreat had been well cemented.

"My youngest sister is 11 and I took her to live with me; she says I'm like her father and brother at the same time. She is a good girl, she's doing well in school too. I just wish the communication between us was better but she is learning sign language so it's OK," he said, smiling.

Today the 31-year-old professional is the founder, president and CEO of Deaf Sport Jamaica, and has been ardently pushing for the deaf community to be involved in athletics. He is also the clerical assistant and the systems administrator at the Lister Mair Gilby High School.

"My future looks bright," the single father of one daughter said confidently. That future includes bright dreams that he is expecting to benefit others like himself.

"I want to set up my own business in computer technology. But at the same time I am thinking of setting up a video relay centre for the deaf. [That is] a telecommunication system where you can communicate using sign language," McDonald shared.

"It will be similar to Skype but it will be connected to the television and not to the computer," he said.

"I want to start out at the home level using the television and then add the feature for the cellphone. So they will call and the call will pop up on the television screen, if they are not at home it will transfer to the cellphone," he added.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Deaf-but-talented--bright-and-optimistic_14018291#ixzz2Q4YAhoeC

JN supports primary, all-age cricket competition

2013-04-10T05:30:00.002-07:00

For the fourth consecutive year, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) will be the lead sponsor of the JN Primary and All-Age Cricket Competition, renewing its partnership with the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).

The competition, which is celebrating two decades of cricket development, was launched at the Clubhouse, Sabina Park in Kingston, on Wednesday.

More than 350 schools will participate in this year's competition for a chance to win the Courtney Walsh and Collie Smith Shields.

Speaking at the anniversary launch, Maximilian Campbell, executive, group human resource development at JNBS, pledged continued support of the competition, stating that: "These development matches have contributed to the grooming of early cricketing skills for many young cricketers, who have gone on to represent Jamaica and the region at the highest levels."

He emphasised that Jamaica National's investment in various sporting disciplines were critical "to honing the skills of our young people, and to encourage their participation individually, or on teams, at the national, regional and international levels".

The JN executive commended the JCA for its 20-year commitment to the competition, adding that: "The competition contributed to producing some 90 per cent of the country's national cricketers, including Brenton Parchment, Nkrumah Bonner and Nikita Miller."

As part of Jamaica National's sponsorship, two scholarships will be awarded to players with outstanding examination results. In addition, young players will receive valuable training experience, during the course of the competition.

Lyndel Wright, president of the JCA, said the competition is a vehicle through which youngsters can be developed, not just as cricketers, but as whole persons.

"Cricket is a very dynamic game, as it builds leaders and players for our country and good citizens," he said, while encouraging coaches to lead the young cricketers "not only to play well, but to impart discipline and good order, so that they can become good players to represent Jamaica and the region".

Play in the competition will begin on Monday, with the elimination round for both primary and all-age schools, across the four established zonal groupings.

Last year's winners, the Ballards Valley Primary and the Mayfield All-Age schools, both from St Elizabeth, will be returning to defend their titles against the exploits of schools from other parishes

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/cricket/JN-supports-primary--all-age-cricket-competition_14009828#ixzz2Q3xvytQG

Harnessing the Power of the Wind

2013-04-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

"A wind turbine is capable of powering over 2,000 Jamaican homes", says Kimroy Bailey, an awarding winning blogger and Renewable Energy Consultant. What does this mean? This means that by using the wind, and other renewable energy sources such as the sun (solar power) and water (hydro electricity), Jamaicans can have reduced electricity bills, which ultimately could lead to a boost in Jamaica’s manufacturing and export sectors. This also means that our island home will be less dependent on imported oil.

Do you think Jamaica is doing enough to make better use of its renewable energy sources?

In an article entitled, ‘Funding an Offshore Wind Farm’, Kimroy Bailey speaks about the feasibility of harnessing the power of the wind as a viable alternative energy source for our country. Check out his article and oh, remember to follow @KimroyBailey on Twitter to learn more about renewable energy in Jamaica! Click here to read Kimroy's article!

More communities to benefit under CSJP

2013-04-08T06:08:00.002-07:00

The Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP II) will be expanded from 39 to 50 communities during this legislative year.

Under the programme, 500 'at-risk' youth will be provided with training in construction skills in partnership with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

CSJP is a multi-faceted crime and violence prevention initiative of the Ministry of National Security, which focuses on building community safety and security.

The programme provides crime and violence-prevention services to vulnerable and volatile communities, and conducts institutional strengthening for the Ministry of National Security.

Following the completion of CSJP Phase 1 in December 2009, the programme was expanded from 29 to 39 communities as a result of a merger with the Ministry of National Security's Community Security Initiative (CSI), another crime prevention initiative in January 2011.

CSJP II is jointly funded through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and a grant from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID).

The programme currently serves 39 volatile and vulnerable communities in eight parishes.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/More-communities-to-benefit-under-CSJP_14008803#ixzz2PsQi5G9b

Majesty Gardens youth given chance to upgrade skills

2013-04-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

JN Foundation batting for Social Enterprises

2013-04-05T07:31:00.002-07:00

JN Foundation's General Manager Saffrey Brown talks about the work of the Foundation. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

April is World Autism Awareness Month

2013-04-04T07:25:00.001-07:00

In celebration of World Autism Awareness Month, the Jamaica Autism Support Association will be hosting its first World Autism Awareness Concert at the Emancipation Park on Saturday, April 6 starting at 4 p.m.
The following day will be the annual church service at the Barbican Baptist Church in St Andrew at 8 a.m.

The association is hoping to bring much-needed awareness to autism in Jamaica, as it continues its 'Light It Up Blue' initiative, which was started last year. Persons are encouraged to light up their homes, offices and schools with blue.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130403/health/health2.html

LIME Jamaica Foundation offers Web-Design Training for teachers

2013-04-03T17:07:00.002-07:00

The LIME Foundation yesterday launched a week-long Web-Design Training programme for teachers from Primary Schools in the Corporate Area and instructors from the MultiCare Foundation.

The programme, which will also include instruction in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word applications, is the first of what is intended to be an annual event scheduled for the Easter school break.

Twenty participants, with varying levels of computer competence, form the first cohort and they come from George Headley Primary, Mico Practising, Seaview Gardens Primary, Chetolah Park Primary, Holy Family Primary, St Aloysius Primary, Whitfield Town Primary, New Providence Primary, and the MultiCare Foundation.

In a brief welcome at the beginning of yesterday's opening session, LIME Foundation Chairman Errol Miller encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunity being offered, especially bearing in mind how computer savvy some of their students already were.

He also urged them not to keep their newly acquired skills to themselves, but to endeavour to incorporate them into their school curriculum.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/LIME-Foundation-offers-Web-Design-Training-for-teachers_13992615#ixzz2PRrbtctX

Make buildings energy, water efficient - UWI

2013-04-03T14:07:00.002-07:00

If Jamaica is to survive the surging temperatures and other severe weather patterns brought on by climate change, its building stock will also have to be revolutionised.

Reporting on research under an Inter-American Development Bank-funded project being carried out by the Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD) at the University of the West Indies titled Develop Design Concepts for Climate Change Resilient Buildings, project coordinator Heather Pinnock said the buildings needed to be more energy and water efficient.

"Mitigating the extensive impacts of climate change requires a strategic approach, including better planning and developing building stock that is far more energy and water efficient and also can withstand higher temperatures and more severe weather conditions," she said.

Acknowledging that Jamaica has relatively good building practices compared to some countries, the report indicated that the devastation experienced during flood events, as well as reports on areas vulnerable to other hazards, show that there are still major risks.

It also pointed to gaps in the country's legislative framework, for while there are some laws that address environmental control and physical planning and provide the basics for the enactment of climate change resilience, they were not comprehensive. The pending Building Bill of 2011 is one example.

To that end, the report makes the case for "investment in construction concepts that support the efficient use of water, energy and resource efficient materials; enhancing public awareness of construction concepts designed to safeguard homes and businesses from the effects of severe weather conditions and other natural hazards resulting from climate change; and improving public awareness of the benefits of supporting climate change resilience construction initiatives".

Noting that the Caribbean has begun some work in this area with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs), guiding the adaptation process, Pinnock said that gaps exist in that programme including limited national level projects responding to individual needs, too few adaptation actions on the ground, and inadequate action related to various sectors including tourism, water, energy, and housing.

Still, Latin America and the Caribbean region has been able to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 11 per cent through improvements in land use and energy efficiency, Pinnock pointed out.

Reporting on the progress of the project, Professor Anthony Clayton, principal investigator, reiterated the devastating effect climate change is projected to have, especially on tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.

"An interim report, just completed, shows the urgent need for institutional changes, economic and policy review and changes in legislation and regulations regarding environmental protection and development in Jamaica," he said.

Professor Clayton added that the immediate impacts of climate change are likely to take place along Jamaica's coastal areas, which has significant economic implications for the island's areas of human settlement, transport infrastructure and tourism sector,.

"In order to mitigate the damage that climate change would otherwise cause to Jamaica, we need to make significant modifications to the country's regulatory and planning systems as soon as possible," said professor Clayton.

The main objective of the UWI/ISD project is to assess climate change-related risks and help increase resilience in the building stock of Jamaica and the Caribbean. The outcome will be the development of approaches and policies that will help reduce the loss of life and property and enable effective recovery in the aftermath of climate-related disasters in the Caribbean.

It has three main components: planning analysis & technical assessment; geographic information system mapping and dissemination; and an awareness- building programme.

In addition to Pinnock and Prof Clayton, other team members are Prof Tara Dasgupta, the

co-principal investigator; Dr Kwame Emmanuel, technical review consultant; Akilah Anderson, legislative reviewer; Collette Lewis-Smith, economic review; Tracy-Ann Hyman, green paper review; Anuradha Maharaj; and Ryan Nembhard, Mona Geoinformatics Institute, GIS Mapping; Brian Bernal, building codes review.

They are supported in dissemination and public awareness by Henry Williams, Karin Wilson Edmonds and Marcia Erskine.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/environment/Make-buildings-energy--water-efficient---UWI_13991851#ixzz2PR7UGkvM

2013-04-03T07:41:00.002-07:00

Youth & Education Cont'd