By Richard Morais, Gleaner WriterFALMOUTH:
FALMOUTH HAS been designated a 'City with a Heart' by the United Nations (UN), as a result of the work of the Support to Intra City Volunteerism project in the town, its coordinating and highlighting of volunteerism.
The honour was conferred late last year and the Trelawny capital shared the caring city project with Esmeraldas in Ecuador.
Two years ago with the help of UN Volunteer's caring cities project, the town started a process of revitalising its rich, but fading culture of volunteerism and self-help. Since then schools have been rehabilitated, the fisherman's beach cleaned and developed, local monuments and parks refurbished, implementation of a book drive for low-income students, and the helping of a number of local associations: fishermen, artisans, neighbourhood groups who received professional trainings to update their skills and learn new technologies.
Prior to this, these activities were not possible due to the lack of funds. Voluntary activities in the city are now coordinated through a joint committee, Trelawny Association of Volunteer Organisations (TAVO).
THE DISTINCTION
Custos rotulorum of Trelawny and foremost historian of the parish, Hon. Roylan Barrett, lauded the distinction, and said he would be lobbying for two signs to be placed at both entrances to the town telling about this international honouring.
Custos Barrett who was speaking at the TAVO launch recently said this is no small fete and is something to be proud of.
While chronicling volunteerism in the parish back to the pre-freedom period, noting that it was almost a spiritual thing, he said William Knibb, the great emancipator, lived in Westmoreland, but did not find much goodwill until his sojourn in Trelawny.
Initiated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and in partnership with UN-Habitat and the Inter-American Development Bank's initiative on social capital, ethics and development, the award serves as a reference point for recognising excellence in volunteer promotion for urban development at the community level worldwide.
Some four other cities worldwide were given this distinction with Falmouth. They are Natal, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; Esmeraldas, Ecuador; and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The winning cities were selected on the basis of several criteria, including the level of partnership and civic engagement, significance of activities undertaken, as well as sustainability and overall contribution to society.
