A MAJOR SUMMER programme involving children of employees and the youth around its areas of operation, is being undertaken by Jamalco this year, with many exciting components for the participants.
Among the ingredients of the programme are youth camps, a youth summer employment project and a special young achievers' day which is being dubbed 'GSAT Day'.
Already under way, since early July, has been the first of two youth camps, which are being hosted at the Jamalco Sports Club. There, some 27 youngsters, between seven and 10 years, have been focusing on environmental and health matters under the guidance of a trained US Peace Corps volunteer. A batch of 29 other youngsters are slated for the second camp.
Organised by the Community Relations Department of Jamalco, the camps which will each last for three weeks, include a field trip each week, the first to observe forestry-related matters in Manchester, then on to sections of the island's south coast for a close-up view of the wetlands and the manatees. The third trip for each of the two camps will take the participants on tours of the Jamalco plant at Halse Hall in Clarendon and the company's port facilities at Rocky Point in the same parish.
Camp manager, Peace Corp member Matthew Hedden, working in tandem with some of the many tertiary level summer workers now engaged at Jamalco, takes the children through their daily paces exploring exciting illustrations and demonstrations centred around environmental and health considerations. These include subject matters around the theme, "Kids, the Environment is ours, let's Protect it", such as greening and forestry, water and energy and solid waste.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
"The main purpose of the camps is that the participants must come away from the exercise understanding the need to protect the environment," outlined Blossom Laidlaw, public relations manager at Jamalco.
Hedden fully understands that focus and, with the support of trainees, professionals like teachers, and nurses from communities around Jamalco's areas of operation, he has been bringing out the best of the young ones.
"Our focus is on re-using, recycling and knowing exactly how we affect our environment around us," he outlined of the camps. "We are committed to teaching proper environmental practices to as many children as we possibly can," he added.
While some of the summer employees are enjoying the company of the little ones at the camps, others are busy gaining vital work experience in different aspects of Jamalco's operations, including in departments like engineering and accounting.
Both the summer camps and the youth employment projects will take the overall summer programme into August, when the big GSAT Day will roll in. The August 22 event is to involve the participation of 2003 Scripps Howard third place finisher, Trudy McLeary, along with all of this year's GSAT awardees among the children of Jamalco employees.
To share the top spotlight with Trudy on GSAT Day, will be the lone Government Scholarship recipient from Clarendon. Both will be special guest speakers for the occasion.
The participants will all be feted, motivated and taken on a tour of the Jamalco plant.
