Help Establish Library Projects in Jamaica! - Newsletter #7

Help Establish Library Projects in Jamaica! - Newsletter #7 - 23 JUN 2K10

HELP JAMAICA

HELP Jamaica! stands for Help Establish Library Projects in Jamaica! and is a registered non-profit organisation based in Germany and Jamaica.

We aspire to build libraries and education centers in needy communities in Jamaica to provide necessities for success in school and life: Free access to books and computers and the oversight of a skilled and caring staff who can help the youths learn and establish reading and computer skills.

Our aim is to encourage creativity, talent, hope, ambition and excellence to break the circle of frustration, violence and crime!

Education For A Change!

Newsletter # 7 / June 2010
HELP ESTABLISH LIBRARY PROJECTS IN JAMAICA!

Dear Friends of HELP Jamaica!, Dear Interested People,

Table of Contents:

* State of Emergency!
* Great start for our education center project in Cassava Piece, Kingston 8
* HELP Jamaica! gets support of the two major German reggae festivals!
* The HELP Jamaica! 'Charity Month 2010' just started with 12 events on three continents
* Big Up to the SKANK fashion-label from Sweden for supporting us with a nice charity shirt - check the preview!
* Update on the latest donations we received from charity cooperations worldwide!

STATE OF EMERGENCY !

HELP Jamaica! is shocked about the present situation in Jamaica and wishes to express condolences to all Jamaicans who have lost family members and friends in the disastrous incidents of the last weeks.

Since May 23rd, Jamaica is in a tragic state of emergency. The government had finally accepted the request pending since August 2009 to extradite Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is wanted in the US for his alleged key position in the gun-drug-trade. A joint military and police operation in Tivoli Gardens, the community known as Coke’s stronghold which is as well part of the constituency of the Prime Minister Bruce Golding ended in a bloodshed. Subsequently, deadly conflicts flared up in the corporate area of Kingston and St. Andrew.

The country in which 1680 murder cases had been registered in 2009 is now in an even more unstable condition leaving everybody worried about the future developments. The situation in Jamaica became topic in the international media and subject of many theories, discussions and speculations about the background and the best way to handle the present situation.

HELP Jamaica! tries to keep up with the manifold and sometimes conflicting information on the developments of the last weeks. More information on the current state of affairs can be found on the websites of the two main Jamaican newspapers Jamaican Observer and the The Gleaner and social networks like “News on the Ground” on Facebook.

GREAT START FOR OUR EDUCATION CENTER PROJECT IN CASSAVA PIECE , KGN 8

Part 1 - Progressive Community Meeting in Cassava Piece

After these days of bloodshed, fear and tears in Kingston (especially Tivoli Garden and the surrounding areas) we are very proud and happy to announce that our project in Cassava Piece started off successfully.

Our chairman Hilmar Keding was in Kingston during May to negotiate with construction companies and land surveyors and to supervise the beginning of the renovation process of our compound and building in Cassava Piece.

On Sunday May 9th HELP Jamaica! organised a well attended and very promising community meeting with residents of Cassava Piece.

The community expressed their will to help and support us to get the positive and uplifting project started and came up with the idea to organize clean up on Labour Day on the compound to prepare it for the construction.....

read the full story about the Community Meeting on our website....

Part 2- Labour Day Project: ‘Clean Up The Yard’

Two weeks after the community meeting, on Monday May 24th, the ‘Labour Day Clean Up’ took place.

More than 25 people, young men, elders, mothers and some kids, came together to let words become action.

It was a joy to see so many people supporting the project and a surprise, as the joined operation of army and police in Tivoli Garden just started the night before, and Jamaica held on its breath, fearful of what would happen happen…

We called our co-worker in Jamaica in the morning on Labour Day to discuss whether to postpone the clean up date or not – but the people from the community had already started with the work. They cleaned the compound to all corners and fences, levelled the land, got out the rubbish, cleaned the building and raked the complete site.

The community involvement was way beyond expectations and the day was a full success.

We are deeply thankful for the commitment the community showed, this again strengthens our faith that we are on the right path with the project!

read the full story about the clean up on Labour Day on our website...

HELP JAMAICA! GETS SUPPORT OF THE TWO MAJOR REGGAE FESTIVALS!

After we were able to proudly announce that the 'Reggae Jam' Festival in Bersenbrück is supporting us with a covenant donation of 5000,- EUR after the Festival (August 5th - 7th 2010) we are happy to announce that the 'SummerJam Festival' in Cologne (Juli 2nd - 4th 2010) is joining the supporter network of HELP Jamaica! by fundraising money for us at the guestlist.

Additionally both festivals are giving us the opportunity to set up a HELP Jamaica! information booth at the festival ground, to get in touch with ten-thousands of reggae fans from all over Europe!

Big up and nuff respect to Sheriff and Contour the festival promoters, hopefully see you all at 'Summer Jam' and 'Reggae Jam'!

So watch out for our yellow tent at the festivals, get in touch with us and HELP Jamaica!

If you don't have your ticket yet, make sure to check the wicked line-ups and order your tickets right away - don't miss your chance to see artists like Nas & Damian Marley, Gentleman, Capleton, Mavado, Morgan Heritage, Steel Pulse, U-Roy or Queen Ifrica....

Summer Jam website

Reggae Jam website

THE HELP JAMAICA! 'CHARITY MONTH' 2010 WITH EVENTS ON THREE CONTINENTS

As you know we declared June to be our 'Charity Month' - in 2010 our official 'HELP Jamaica! Charity Month' event line-up is more international than ever as it features charity events on three different continents.

Friends and generous supporters/promoters organised 12 charity events for example in South Africa (during the World Cup!) - Brasil - Finland - Hungary - Austria - and of course all over Germany! Plus already confirmed charity dates for later this year in Switzerland, Belgium, France and Jamaica!

Sample of Flyers for upcoming dances during the Charity Month:

HELP Jamaica! wishes to say 'Big Up & Nuff Respect' to all involved whether you organise one of theses events as promoter or support us by performing for free as artist or soundsystem - your generous support is highly appreciated!

We soon are going to update the 'Supporters-Section' on our website to make sure we display your support in the right way.

NEW CHARITY SHIRT BY SKANK - 'GULLYSIDE COLLEGE'

Big Up to the SKANK fashion-label from Sweden for supporting us with a beautiful charity shirt - check the preview!

The Skank designer used a photo from our building in Cassava Piece (the community known otherwise as the 'Gullyside') and created this nice shirt, which we hope to receive in a few weeks.

Highest Quality - 100% Organic Cotton!

The 'Gullyside College' charity shirt will be available at the Summerjam & Reggaejam Festival, the SKANK online shop, as well as the RIDDIM online shop and our own HELP Jamaica! website.

Of course all proceeds of this shirt will be used to establish our Education Center in Cassava Piece.

Thanks, Big Up & Nuff respect to all supporters, our sustaining members and all private donators using Paypal or bank transfer - your generous support ist highly appreciated. Without you we couldn't HELP Jamaica!