President of the Glengoffe Community Development Committee, Roosevelt Lawrence, examines a chest of drawers produced by Glengoffe residents.

Elaine Hartman Reckord, JIS Writer

They work together to keep their environs clean. They share ideas, skills and expertise and do not hesitate to help the less fortunate. These are the people of a successful community whose actions produce a positive impact and whose commitment help to instil a sense of pride in residents.

Let us journey to Glengoffe where these characteristics have become evident. Nestled in the hilly terrain of St Catherine, Glengoffe is the number one community in Jamaica, having recently won the 2007 National BEST (Better Environment for Social Transformation) Community Competition, which was launched in 2006 by the governor general, His Excellency the Most Hon Professor Sir Kenneth Hall.

They could boast of the $2 million, a glass bowl trophy, a plaque and certificates that were presented for their efforts of self-reliance. But to improve their living conditions by utilising the resources grown in their communities and to volunteer their services in partnership ventures to improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental conditions of their immediate surroundings are accomplishments that will remain with them for years to come.

"Winning the competition motivated the entire Glengoffe. People who didn't want to be involved in the community are now here with us. It encourages us and has created an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. To know that a little community in rural St Catherine can enter a competition with 180 communities and come out first, it is something to be proud of," president of the Glengoffe CDC, Roosevelt Lawrence, said with pride. Glengoffe also won $50,000.00 for each of three awards - Best Improved Agricultural Practices, Best Community Spirit and Self-reliance and Best Cultural and Heritage Programme.

The success of the community was not achieved overnight, but by years of hard work and the spirit of volunteerism. It was in 1998 that a group of residents seriously began to address a number of challenges. Getting telephone service was high on the list of 'things to get' and after persistent but peaceful 'nudging', Cable and Wireless came through for them. Later, the Glengoffe Community Development Committee (CDC) was formed. Currently, the 30-member committee comprises representatives from primary and high schools, the police, churches, youth clubs and other organisations.

Agricultural project

Efforts at community-school partnerships saw the establishment of an agricultural project at the Glengoffe High School in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Lawrence said the CDC plans to utilise the $50,000 it was awarded in the Best Agricultural category to promote agriculture at the school. He noted that the joint project will not only help to educate the students in agricultural practices, but it could also raise funds for the school.

Principal of Glengoffe High School, George Price, has welcomed the project. He noted that agriculture is a 'dying trade' for the youngsters and the project may encourage them to take on a different perspective. Price, who is also a member of the CDC, said he felt extremely proud of Glengoffe's success. The challenge now was for the community to maintain what it has achieved.

Since winning the competition, the community has started a beautification project. "We are beautifying the community; planting trees, flowers, painting the walls and cleaning our communities. As you approach Glengoffe, you must feel the atmosphere of good citizenship and the attitude of winners," Lawrence said.

Glengoffe is blessed with some resources for economic development and so a number of small industries have begun to mushroom in the area. Take for instance the jippy jappa straw to make hats, mats and bags for the local and overseas markets or the wood carvings for decorations. Farming, however, is the chosen way of life for most of the residents.

"This is what the people live by all their lives. We are a self-reliant people," Lawrence said. He believes that the community won because the people were taught how to care for the environment and how to use their fertilisers and pesticides.

Medicinal plants

A variety of medicinal plants such as lemon grass, tumeric, tree of life, noni, fever grass are also grown naturally in Glengoffe. Currently, Lawrence said, research is being carried out by the Biotechnology Centre, UWI, the Scientific Research Council and the Caribbean Herbal Business Association. He said if this exercise turns out to be beneficial to these organisations, then it would be of great economic value to Glengoffe and the country.

Additionally, he said, there are plans to start a bamboo project. "We have the raw materials and we plan to start as soon as we have a suitable place. We are hoping to build a development centre. I don't believe in community centres because this encourages idlers. I believe in a development centre where we can train the youths in skills," he added.

The annual competition encourages community self-help activities. It gives a sense of pride, better values, attitudes and self-worth to community members. To participate in the competition, the CDCs develop projects and activities under eight broad areas: built environment, natural environment, socio-economic, hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness education, health and waste management, heritage and culture. They partner with schools, churches, police, public health inspectors, businesses and other government entities to implement worthwhile projects in the community.

The Social Development Commission (SDC) was responsible for the sensitisation of the competition, which was opened to the 785 CDCs islandwide. Regional governance manager for St Catherine, Baldwin McKenzie said it wasn't difficult mobilising the CDCs since members thought it was an opportunity to gain some recognition. He said meetings were held with the leaders of the CDCs across the parish to inform them of the criteria outlined by the National Committee.

For the next competition, Glengoffe's CDC has been invited by the SDC to share with other CDC leaders some winning 'tips'. So, what of Glengoffe's future? No doubt, the lessons learnt from the partnerships and the taste of sweet success will certainly drive community members to excel in future endeavours.

This is a special Gleaner feature in collaboration with the Jamaica Information Service