Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke (left) and Senator Norman Grant, National Chairman of the Jamaica 4H, attend the service of thanksgiving to celebrate the organisation's 65th anniversary at the Bethel Baptist Church in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
THE JAMAICA 4-H movement, which is marking its 65th anniversary, has come in for high praises for its role in shaping the minds of young people across the country and keeping them on the right path.
A church service was staged at the Bethel Baptist Church, Hope Road, St. Andrew, yesterday, to commemorate the movement's milestone achievement.
Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture, under whose portfolio the Jamaica 4-H falls, said its contribution to the young people of Jamaica is incomparable to any other.
"They stand number one," Mr. Clarke told the congregation.
He said the movement was facing challenges but he was optimistic about its resilience and the way it had gone about its business over the years. The 4-H will survive all the problems that will come its way, said Mr. Clarke.
St. Aubyn Bartlett, the Jamaica Labour Party MP for East Rural St. Andrew, described the Jamaica 4-H's attainment of 65 years as a significant milestone. As he conveyed congratulations on behalf of the Opposition, Mr. Bartlett used the opportunity to praise the Jamaica 4-H for impacting his life as a member.
Norman Grant, national chairman of Jamaica 4-H, said he was pleased to announce that the movement was taking its "rightful place" in the development of the young people of Jamaica.
Mr. Grant, in outlining the vision of the Jamaica 4 H, said the movement is hoping by 2010 to become the leading youth development organisation in Jamaica, providing quality training for nation building.
By mutual agreement 65 year ago the JAS Juvenile Branches and the Jamaica Welfare Limited (now Social Development Commission) Pioneer Clubs merged to form the 4-H Clubs of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. The Jamaica 4 H started with a membership of 3,000, by the year 2000 that figure had grown to 18,000. Five years later, the organisation's membership has surpassed all expectations leaping to a resounding figure of 65, 000.
Mr. Grant expressed thanks to the Minister of Agriculture for the support that they are giving to the Jamaica 4 H as well as the 7,000 Jamaica 4 H volunteers who willingly give of their services.
