Earlier this year, I told you about BRACED II, a USAID-funded program that is so much more than a “housing project,” but a much wider and all-encompassing one that has a strong philosophy behind it. What is that philosophy? Well, for me it seems to be a determined effort to work within communities – unplanned and unregulated, but nevertheless communities – to build resilience. Now, resilience is a word often used in connection with climate change and disaster preparedness/risk reduction; but it’s not just physical, it’s mental and even spiritual, a totally different mindset from the careless way in which we often live.
I wonder if Damien Williams, Field Operations Manager for JamHabitat in Naggo Head, St. Catherine would agree with me? Here is what he has to say about the recent work he has been doing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Habitat for Humanity has been working in Portmore for almost three years. As part of our efforts to build resilience and capacities for emerging disasters, we have conducted several awareness raising and participatory learning activities for residents of Naggo Head, Newland and Gregory Park around Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
When it comes to emerging disasters, we cannnot simply consider earthquakes, hurricanes and fire. We have to necessarily also consider the sustainability of our environment and the impact on our health.
As such, we decided to engage the children in those communities around sustainble and proper WASH practices. We held a poster competition, where the participants competed for book vouchers and a chance to have their winning poster painted as a mural on the several garbage receptacles we have built across those communities.
The best drawings were selected from each community and then voted on by a panel of judges. Emerging 1st was 12 year-old Odain Bryan from Newlands, who attends Bridgeport High School. Odain’s drawing depicted split communities: one with poor WASH practices and the other with WASH best practices.
Second was Nervin Bassaragh, a grade 5 student of the Gregory Park Primary School. Nervin’s drawing highlighted the dangers of sea pollution to marine life and to our food supply.
Kevaughn Chin of Naggo Head was third. Kevaughn attends Ascot Primary School and is in grade 6. His drawing depicted proper garbage disposal (see the collage of pictures on the home page for a photo of Kevaughn with JamHabitat’s Deedra Harris at Ascot Primary School.
At Habitat, we believe that community empowerment is the way to go for sustainable development to be realised; but we also believe that the transformation of those communities rests in empowering the children.
“Teach a child and you would have transformed a generation.”
I’m looking forward to visiting Naggo Head again soon!
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