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It is with mixed emotions that Global Children has officially
decided to end its two-and-a-half year project in Jamaica.
Taking into consideration the current economic climate and the
subsequently shrinking pool of grant resources for international
development projects, we have sadly decided that the Jamaica
Community Enrichment Program is no longer sustainable for Global
Children as an organization.
There are a number of people in Jamaica who have been helpful to
Global Children in its first Caribbean project, most notably Georgia
and Neville Gordon, whose dedication to their community originally
spawned the idea for our work in St. Thomas Parish, a poor and rural
region virtually untouched by the economic benefits of the Jamaican
tourist trade. With their full-time jobs and two young children,
Georgia and Neville accomplished a great deal under the auspices
of Global Children, and we hope that they will continue to access
the resources and connections which Global Children established and
fostered in the region. Our wish is that our work in the area will lead
to the continued development of local community-based development
programs, by Jamaicans and for Jamaicans.
Below is a listing of our accomplishments in Jamaica over the
last two years, highlighting the various ways in which
Global Children positively impacted the St. Thomas Parish area:
Princess Margaret Hospital: successful renovation and painting
of the Children's Ward, a project that will continue
to benefit staff, visitors, and the children living and
staying in the Children's Ward for many years to come.
Hampton Court Basic School: considerable renovation and
reconstruction of a dilapidated rural school building,
including roof repair and a small addition.
Health fairs: several successful health fairs were held in
Hampton Court and the surrounding area,
reviewing personal hygiene, sanitation, HIV/AIDS and STD
prevention, family planning, nutrition, pediatric health, and women's health.
Hygiene and Sanitation Outreach: many hours of outreach and assistance to rural
families in need of teaching, hygiene implements, and support.
Distribution of materials: successful partnership established with Food for the Poor,
wide distribution of basic food, school supplies, furniture, clothing, shoes, and
other materials to needy families and schools at no cost.
House construction: successful construction of a small two-room home with the assistance
of Food for the Poor, subsequently occupied by a local family.
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