Festival (GATFFEST) was the largest ever, boasting a record- breaking number of embassy partners and an overall increase in sponsorship and partnerships. Additionally, support from filmmakers and patrons grew significantly. The execution of MSS/UWICFP activities positively impacted more than 2000 residents from the communities served and, consequently, forged new partnerships and strengthened the relationship between the residents and UWI staff, and students and other key stakeholders. MSS also implemented a Kitchen Garden Project at the Hope Valley Experimental School. This project was made possible by funds received from the Froebel’s Trust, a UK-based organization (https://www.froebel.org.uk/), as well as technical assistance from the Lions Club of Mona and the Faculty of Engineering, UWI. The objective of the garden is to grow vegetables to supplement the school-feeding programme. The project also serves as a teaching aid and a natural oasis where children ages 4 to 6 years can learn, play, and interact with nature, thereby contributing to their well-being. The garden’s accompanying drip irrigation water system also serves to maintain the garden and improve the school’s water supply. The Kitchen Garden currently impacts approximately 700 students and staff directly. Two hundred students benefit from the school’s breakfast programme while 500 students and staff participated in the lunch programme. The Kitchen Garden is self-sustaining for while it enhances food security at the school, it has also been able to generate excess supply, thereby garnering income that is used to procure more seedlings and farm supplies to sustain the garden. It is the intention of the MSS/UWICFP to establish and re-establish other kitchen garden initiatives in schools in August Town and other communities.
UWI ONELIFE: STUDENTS DEVELOPING COMMUNITY
UWI OneLife, an initiative of the Office of Student Services and Development (OSSD), is a community engagement programme that seeks to enhance the lives of its student members and that of surrounding communities. Its objectives include helping The University to develop stronger ties with the community; aiding “at risk” and vulnerable social groups on a regional level; instilling a deeper sense of service in students; and helping students to become more aware of some of the prevalent problems in the community. Twenty-five (25) members of OneLife participated in the International Coastal Clean-up in AY 2022/2023. The team was assigned to the Boardwalk Beach in Hellshire, St Catherine. This event caused members to see first-hand the state of our beaches and develop an appreciation for efforts that aim to positively benefit the environment. Besides visiting Excelsior High School to speak with fifth and sixth form students about university, volunteerism, and their future, OneLife members built the roof for a resource room for the Barking Lodge Primary School, and repainted classrooms, the school playground, and the newly constructed resource room there. They also distributed well-prepared lunches to the homeless in selected sections of the Kingston Metropolitan Area.
The execution of MSS/ UWICFP activities positively impacted more than 2000 residents from the communities served and, consequently, forged new
partnerships and strengthened the
relationship between the residents and UWI staff, and students
and other key stakeholders.
MSS/UWICFP KITCHEN GARDEN PROJECT
From left: Principal, Hope Valley Experimental School, Mr Anthony Grant; Dr Olivene Burke, Executive Director MSS/ UWICFP; Rachel Tyrel, student; Hon Fayval Williams, Minister of Education and Youth; Mrs Sharon Hastings, President, Lions Club of Mona; Mr Stanley Smellie, Lecturer & IPP, Lions Club of Mona
Children posing in their school kitchen garden.
71 UWI MONA ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
70 UWI MONA ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease