Treasure Beach Walks for Haiti Relief- Dennis H

My Community, having been devastated by hurricane Ivan, and being the recipients of a tremendous international response, immediately began to discuss how they could help Haiti following the recent devastating Earthquake.  All of the community groups – the Treasure Beach Women’s Group, Treasure Beach Action Committee and Breds (my organization) – began meeting to determine how they could reach out a hand to their neighbors.  The groups decided to unite and have a “Walk for Haiti” on January 23^rd.

The best way to describe the effort and the response from the community of Treasure Beach is overwhelming. The community came out in full force to help. Businesses had collection boxes, refreshments for the volunteers were donated by Jack Sprats, Town Crier donated services and a small army of volunteers showed up at 8AM on Saturday morning to walk miles to visit every yard in the entire Treasure Beach area. The community response exceeded everyone’s expectations.

As residents began to gather at the TBWG group house, they were assigned pre-determined areas of Treasure Beach to cover.  With each group, one or more drivers volunteered to go along with the walkers to pick up food, clothing and other donations, and to pack the refreshments necessary on such a warm Southern St. Elizabeth day.  By 1PM everyone was back recounting stories of kindness and generosity.

As one of the “walkers” I was so pleased to see area residents waiting for us with cash, clothes and food items. We came to houses where no one was home but bags of clothes were left on the verandah for us to collect. The amount of children who came to us putting in their coins as contribution was unbelievable and we also got a generous response from the tourists that we encountered.  The Guest House operators were very generous in allowing us to beg the guests.  Many residents that did not have money to donate, went into their homes and returned with some articles of clothing for donation.  When the walk was over, we had to return to the neighborhoods to collect barrels and boxes of donated clothing that could not be picked up by the walkers and volunteer vehicles.

To say the least, it was a very satisfying day; I am so proud to be a part of my community.  We raised more that $300,000 and a pile of clothes that would stuff a moving truck.  Everyone was so energized – both the volunteers and the residents that we met.  A special thanks goes out to the Women’s Group who hosted the very effective organizational meeting and allowed the use of their facility for staging and warehouse.

White River Fisherman Teach Lionfish who is King of Jamaican Waters

On 11 December 2009 members of the White River Fisherman’s Cooperative hosted representatives from NEPA, Fisheries, community leaders, restaurateurs, local business owners and the U.S. Peace Corps to teach them the safe handling, cleaning and preparation of the lionfish.  The lionfish is the beautiful and showy striped fish with venomous spines that are native to the Pacific Ocean but are showing up in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The lionfish have elongated venomous dorsal fin spines and enlarged pectoral fins. A person punctured by one of the sharp spines will immediately feel strong pain. Rapid swelling of the affected body area develops along with the possibility of making movement of limbs very difficult. Lionfish stings can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, convulsions, collapse, and even death in rare cases.

Fairy Hill Citizens Association: A Long History of Work with Peace Corps

By: Beverly Carr, Fairy Hill Citizens Association

Fairy Hill Citizens Association and Neighbourhood Watch started a relationship in 1987 with Bo Norris, a young Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) when he encouraged and helped us to start a paper recycling project using discarded paper and natural fibers.  The project “Natures Handmade Paper” was born and is still in existence.

Fast forward to 2008 when Fairy Hill got funding from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) for a waste management project.  We approached Shannon Rease, a PCV at Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA), for help.

This project mandated us to do public education in the community and at Boston Primary and Infant School.  We collected plastic items, glass bottles and aluminum cans for recycling as well as we placed 3 garbage skips and 59 drums in our community.

Shannon revived the Environmental Club at the school, she gave lecture/demonstrations to the students and teachers and during the summer it was time for our “Environmental Fun Camp”.

For the past two summers, Shannon called on her PCV friends Zach, Frank, Sean, Jesse, Josh, Un, Anne and Rob to help.  The children were taught how to make art and craft items (eg. Kites) using discarded items, held talks on Handwashing, Building Self Esteem, HIV/AIDS and Saving Money.  They were taken on field trips, taught how to build a compost heap and they also had games and did a little gardening.  The children have had a great time and enjoyed the camp immensely.

Shannon worked with the schools and we were able to run two competitions.  Competitions were based on environmental awareness as well as collection of recyclables.

Shannon is an energetic, resourceful, professional and rain or shine we could depend on Shannon even when she had to travel with her “bag and pan” on the taxis.

Sandy W. – Globetrotter

Merhaba, Turkish fi Wha Gwaan, After floating in Cleopatra’s Pool, hot air ballooning, sleeping in a cave and visiting ancient cities I can positively endorse the Peace Corps life! A major emphasis of Peace Corps objectives calls for cultural exchange. I quickly learned that Jamaica’s cultural ambassador is Bob Marley. The first comment after establishing the fact that I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica caused most Turks to smile broadly and say “Oh, Bob Marley!”

I had the opportunity to partake in the culure exchange by making a most energetic and concerted effort to sample all Turkish vegetarian food. The youghurt, tomates, cucumbers, cheeses and pistachio baklava were the best I have EVER eaten, except for Dad’s baklava. Yes, the tomatoes were even better than the Jamaican variety by just a likkle bit. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is head and shoulders above the Turkish Coffee though. In fact, instant Nescafe was the main coffee. My disappointment at this state of affairs was quickly relieved by Turkish Apple Tea, the National drink. Oh and yes, the plums and tangerines were even better than Harry and David….

Peace Corps and PEPA, a Longstanding Partnership

The Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA) ( http://pepa-jamaica.org/ )was founded in 1988 by citizens of Portland concerned about the increasing amount of environmental degradation around them. PEPA is a legally constituted non-profit, limited liability company; we are a non-political, Non-Government Organization who serves as an umbrella organization for over fifty (50) Community Based Organizations and groups across the parish of Portland. Our membership includes community groups, youth groups, fishermen’s organizations, environment protection associations as well as civic associations and individuals.

Our mission is “To promote public awareness and action to protect the environment: to ensure the wise use of natural resources for sustainable development”, and PEPA has been working with organizations of all types to establish a resource management ethos across Portland for both marine & terrestrial ecosystems of the parish

The Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) programme has been integral in the development of the Portland Environment and Protection Association (PEPA) for over twenty years. Volunteers have played a critical role in the establishment of all PEPA’s activities and programmes from the monumental to the mundane; PCVs have assisted with a wide range of activities from the drafting of the management plan for the proposed Port Antonio Marine Park to the networking of the office computers.

PEPA’s excellent track record in environmental education has been enhanced through the active and profound involvement of the PCVs who have contributed to the venture by assisting with the establishment of an Environmental Resource Library, conducting of teacher training workshops and delivery of environmental education to schools and community groups by the use of PowerPoint presentations and other innovative teaching techniques.  Teachers and students have benefited from the development of resource materials by volunteers that are designed to aid in the simple, clear and factual delivery of environmental education that also ties in with the school’s environmental curriculum.

The book “Biodiversity Lesson Plans: Lesson plans for primary grades 3-6” was written by a Peace Corp Volunteer and was reviewed and accepted by The Ministry of Education as an excellent supporting document for teachers in Primary Schools; other teaching aid manuals were developed and distributed to schools in Portland over the years.

Environmental Club programmes have also been strengthened in various schools across the parish through the active involvement of the volunteers in this important endeavor. Several inactive clubs have been revitalized and are keenly involved in several programmes implemented by the school, PEPA and community groups.

Looking back, 3 Years with a Great Agency in a Great Parish

-  Shannon R, PCVL

I remember the day when Jimmy McNeil and Julie Goodlaw-Morris sat me down during my Group 77 training to ask me “What type of site are you looking to go to?”  I remember telling them to put me far into the bush, with PCVs only an hour away and no where near the beach.  You might think I was crazy for that request, but I wanted “the real Peace Corps experience” and was determined that was the way to get it.  How little did I know!  A few weeks later during the placement announcements I found out I did not get my wish.  I was being placed in the parish capital of Port Antonio, on the coast.  I tried to be happy, but inside I was really worried that this was not going to work out.  Jimmy reassured me that this was the right placement for me and to give it some time and it would work out.  Boy, did that guy know!

Since training I wanted to extend for a third year, but I think it was fate that really saw that dream into reality.  The moment I became a member of the Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA) I knew it was going to be a good fit.  Machel Donegon, PEPA’s CEO, was open to my ideas, answered my many questions and made me feel welcomed.  I know that sometimes PCVs are expected to “replace” the previous PCV, but I never felt like that at PEPA and was thankful for that.  I was always looked at as my own person and encouraged to work on projects that I was interested in.  

My three goals when I first came to PEPA were to develop some sort of organized resource area for teachers, students and community members to use.  I also wanted to create a recycling program and to write a large-scale grant that was accepted for funding.  To my surprise I was able to accomplish each of these goals.  During my second year of service I received a SPA grant to fund the purchase of resource books for an environmental library and to be able to conduct an environmental training education workshop for teachers.  This past year I worked with the Fairy Hill Citizen’s Association with their Environmental Foundation of Jamaica recycling centre grant.  With this project I helped to facilitate recycling efforts at local schools and with the College of Education, Science and Agriculture.  Since so many individuals were eager to participate with this project by recycling, I worked with the Fairy Hill Citizen’s Association on writing another EFJ grant as a partnership effort with PEPA to broaden the recycling efforts within the parish.  This grant was accepted for funding and I have been working on the beginning stages of the project and will continue working with PEPA until next May on this grant.

I have many memorable experiences working at PEPA.  I think one memory that always makes me laugh was the day that I was helping to complete mangrove transects.  One of the mangroves we visited was very wet and the peat was like quicksand, so you had to move quickly and carefully.  As we were completing our transect I followed two of the scientists we were working with in another direction.  I then started heading toward this group of mangroves that were completely dead thinking that the ground would be dryer and easier to walk on.  Well, I headed in the direction and the next thing I knew I was to my knees in mud.  As I tried to unstuck myself my one leg sunk in to my thigh.  I was trapped and did not know what to do!  Thankfully, one of the great scientists from Port Royal Marine Lab, Camillo Trench, gave me a hand and helped me to release myself from the mud.  As I came onto the road everyone had a good laugh and I had learned a valuable lesson to watch my step in the mangrove forests! 

Other memories I have are of the youth I have worked with.  That has been my true joy each day I have been in Jamaica.  I do not care how hot it may be or if rain is falling, if I need to help plant a school garden, give an environmental presentation, work with a teacher, come up with some sort of craft activity or help conduct a summer camp I try to put in 100% and get it done while having fun!  There have been so many students and teachers who have made my experience here fantastic in so many ways.  I am amazed at how few resources that many teachers have to work with, but they find the time and the resources to still do their part on teaching youth about the importance of taking care of the environment.  The youth amaze me too!  So many of them asking great questions during presentations, putting in the physical effort to plant a garden, showing up each day at a summer camp or encouraging others to protect the environment.  It is truly amazing what youth are capable of accomplishing at any age.  I remember going to my first Basic School presentation and realizing that these kids knew more then I gave them credit for and I needed to make my presentations to them more challenging.  It is also amazing to realize how much the youth really listen to you during a presentation.  I remember helping an environmental club with a garden planting activity. 

Stephanie H. – Aquaponics training in the USVI

UVI Aquaponics System

Yeppers I am back in Jamaica. From where? The University of the Virgin Islands in St. Croix where I took a short course on International Aquaponics and Tilapia Aquaculture.

I want to begin with an explanation for taking the course. I am not going to lie it was a nice break from the day-to-day life in Jamaica. However, the reasoning behind taking the course is far more extensive than going on vacation. Going back a little bit I am a PCV assigned to the Jamaica 4H Clubs. During my initial months on island I was situated in Christiana, Manchester. Trying to keep busy I began to conduct trainings with a counterpart in environmentally-friendly, income generating agricultural practices. One school in particular was Holmwood Technical High School. Here I met the 4H Leader Mr. Graham who was bound and determined to raise fish, in particular Tilapia. You know how some say, “It’s all in who you know” – well a friend of mine, Donnie Bunting, owns the Longville Park Tilapia Farm in Freetown, Clarendon. While exchanging information between the three of us I began to do a little background research and came upon Aquaponics. Many may not know that Manchester is the only parish in Jamaica with out a water source (river, lake, stream, etc). Aquaponics is an integrated aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponic (growing soilless plants) system. First, the waste from fish tanks is pumped to a section of the system to be treated with a natural bacteria that converts the waste–which is largely ammonia–first to nitrite and then to nitrate. At that point, the fish waste is in a state that can be used to feed the plants. The fish wastewater is then pumped to a media bed or other hydroponic system to be used as nutrient solution by the growing plants. After I began discussing my findings with Holmwood Technical High other colleagues I came in contact with the owner of a Romaine Hydroponics Farm just outside of Spur Tree, Manchester. I held a brief meeting with representatives from the Tilapia farm, the hydroponics farm, the National School Garden Initiative, the Jamaica 4H Clubs, and local Member of Parliament (MP). After the meeting we were able to tour the Romaine Hydroponics Farm. I heard word from a friend of two complete commercial fish tanks he was trying to get rid of. Of course I jumped at the offer and with a US$2,000.00 SPA grant purchased one of the two tanks. As novices in the field we worked together to develop a proposal to send into the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ). This proposal included a Technology Park for the Denbigh 4H Training Centre with small animal husbandry exhibits, aquaponics display, seedling nursery, bio-diesel display, grey water exhibit, proper composting techniques and a comparison of organic vs. inorganic farming methods. If all else fails we will break down the project and propose it to the Partnership Program. I came upon this course through an employee at the Longville Park Farm who had taken the course in 2003 and was willing to provide expertise towards the Holmwood Technical High Project. He was able to get us in contact with a professor from UVI who provided additional technical assistance for free. He suggested taking the course in June. The staff of Holmwood Technical High and I decided to begin with the rearing tanks and implement hydroponics aspects after we had a better understanding of the Re-circulating Aquaponics System. I decided to submit a Discretionary Grant to EFJ to fund the course. After over two months of waiting for a reply I contacted EFJ only to hear that the proposal was mixed in with the regular grants and had to be reviewed still. Through constant reminders I finally received an answer less than three weeks before the start of the course, “Sorry but we are unable to fund your proposal at this time.” Rather than give up and given I called back for an explanation and rebutted every excuse. After the conversation I was asked to send a letter to EFJ with my concerns so that the proposal could be reviewed again.

Through a very creative and determined manner I was able to get the entire course funded!