See some shots taken during the workshop sessions:

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On April 19th, we had an exhibition of the best shots, with renowned artists, social activist and woman leader Pat Ramsey as our guest speaker sharing her joy and passion about art as a way to be “true to yourself”, to make a change in our communities and to communicate and connect with the world.

The best pictures will also be showcased at an exhibition in Helsinki, where the pictures will be sold and the money donated to HELP Jamaica! to fund future photo projects!

All participants and the facilitators where enthusiastic about the workshop, and the pictures speak for themselves! We thank Tiina Palm, Gavin Myers and Kim Cotterel and congratulate all participants! Continue the great work!

Tiina was right when she explained the purpose of the project in one of her emails: “I am passionate about photography as an art form and really believe in its power to change things. Through photography you can give people a peaceful weapon trough which they can speak louder than with any words.” So let the pictures speak!

Slideshow of some of the best pictures taken by the participatians of the workshop

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Visit Tiina’s website for her great report about the project and to see ALL the great pictures taken by the participants.

Big up all artists, musicians, sounds, organizers, club staff, catering crew and helping hands in the background who made it possible and who invested a lot of work, preparation and showed nuff professionalism and dedication!

Big up the entire Lifted Selection Sound, Max RubaDub, Daniel Berger, Cookie Tha Herbalist, Collie Herb, The Dubby Conquerors, Dodo, Etobasi, Danini & Easy Yves, De Luca, Päddy Ranks, Redwan, Michael Morger, Ganjaforce Sound, Island Selector, SoundQuake Sound Kulturzentrum Holästei, KiFF Club Team an of course all who came out to celebrate with us for a good cause!

It definately payed off! We just got confirmation about a donation of 1400,- CHF coming from the event in Glarus organized by the Lifted Selection Sound crew at club Holästei and a next 1000,- CHF from the event in Aarau at Club KIFF, which was organized by Max Rubadub and the Gideon Production crew!

Maximum respect! Your support is large – all proceeds will be send to Kingston to cover the monthly costs of our Education Center in Cassava Piece.

Slideshow with pictures from the two events in Switzerland

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Finally Bernd Lagemann, and two members of the Reggae Jam team got the chance to personally visit the Education Center in Cassava Piece, the institution they helped to develope. With great joy the kids welcomed the distinguished guests from Germany on January 22. After a little tour the group gathered in the backyard to have some fun. Not only the team at the Center was happy to welcome Bernd and his friends, he also enjoyed the visit and was impressed by the works.

Review of the year 2012 at the HELP Jamaica! Education Center in Cassava Piece, Kingston 8.

The year started with the arrival of Volunteer Ursula “Munchy” Münch in January, she stayed with us for the full year 2012 and generously donated her time and energy.

In the first weeks of January, we completed our new second classroom, which was needed to accommodate the constantly increasing numbers of attendees at the Center. We finally opened the classroom with a function on March 27, 2012, with distinguished guests and the community.

Two weeks prior to that, on March 10, 2012 we celebrated the 1st anniversary of our Center in Cassava Piece, Kingston 8. Our annual football tournament and community dance was held with music provided by SoundQuake, Coppershot Sound, Chunky Four Star and others. First Anniversary Video

In February we welcomed Linda & Louis from the ‘Nice Up The Walls’ Project (UK), who did a stunning mural on the walls located in the backyard of our Center. We further hosted the ‘Urban Street Art Project’, organized by the German Embassy in Kingston and proudly welcomed The Honorable A. J. Nicholson (Minister for Foreign Affairs), as well as the German and French Ambassadors as visitors at the Center.

In March, we welcomed our new CEO and Manager at the Education Center, Mrs. Virginia Chin, who is a great and valued asset to the organization and has contributed much to the developments with her experience, her vision and tireless dedication.

During 2012, we teamed up with people from the community and organized a ‘Fun Friday’ and a community Spelling Bee Contest at our Center, in order to strengthen our roots in the community and to raise awareness for our educational programmes and offers. We celebrated Easter, Christmas and many birthdays at the Center during the course of the year, and have had police officers, teachers and many local and international volunteers and visitors at the Center to read, play and interact with the children. We welcomed the artists Chronixx and Kelissa, Conkarah and others at the Center, who supported us with music, workshops and other creative activities. Further highlights during 2012 included a dancing class held by German dancehall queen Swaggi Maggi, our netball tournament for the women and our first full ‘Summer School Program’ during the summer holidays, which offered various activities as well as a field trip with the children to the Jamaica Institute’s Museum and the National Heroes Park in downtown Kingston and other places such as Emancipation Park, Kings House, Jamaica House, Ministry of Education and the University in Mona (UWI).

We improved our media presence and popularity, with local and international press highlighting our work, and chairperson Birte Timm and volunteer teacher Oneil Morrison had the opportunity to introduce our work to the public in Jamaica on TVJ’s popular ‘Smile Jamaica’ Morning Show.

With the new term starting September, we held an ‘Orientation Day’ for adult students and parents at the Center. Education specialist Dr. Beverly McKenzie held a motivational lecture to promote our classes and encourage the attendees. With the new term and extended classes, we are now experiencing even higher numbers of students using our facility. The team of volunteer teachers also increased to six professionals offering Adult Education Classes such as Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Computer Studies every day of the week. This probably makes us the only institution in Jamaica that provides free classes to prepare students for the Caribbean-wide accepted graduation CXC examinations, completely free of cost for the students.

In November, we were able to offer our team members a six week Life Skills training course at the RISE Life Management Services, which they successfully completed.   For the Christmas season, we started a very successful cooperation with Michael Thompson and his ‘International Reggae Poster Contest’ for the 2013 edition of the Charity Calendar, which once again is successfully sold out.

We welcomed many international guests to the Center, distributed food and clothing donations from ‘Food For The Poor’ to the community, and received much support after hurricane ‘Sandy’ ravaged the community, including destroying parts of the Center roof.

The year ended in a very positive and optimistic spirit, as we installed a brand new photovoltaic solar system which was generously donated by the German Embassy in Kingston on our fixed roof. The unveiling ceremony of the 20 solar panels in the presence of The Honorable Philipp Paulwell (Minister for Energy and Mining), Senator The Honorable A. J. Nicholson (Minister For Foreign Affairs), and His Excellency, The German Ambassador Josef Beck was not only a highlight of 2012, with us being the first NGO in Jamaica to ‘go green’, but also a great day to celebrate a Christmas Treat for the children and to say thank you with a ‘farewell’ party for Munchy, who was an integral part of all these great developments at the Center during the year 2012. Solar System Video

These very positive developments in 2012 would not have been possible without the help of all our supporters!  Please continue to support HELP Jamaica! in the future and help us to maintain our programmes and offerings to the people of Cassava Piece and its surroundings.

With best wishes for a wonderful 2013!
Education For A Change!

Slideshow of pictures taken in the past year!

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Together with the team he created a very special afternoon for the children and their parents: cookie decoration, certificates for the best students and staff, Christmas gifts, free snacks and juice. It was also the last day for German volunteer ‘Munchy’ who spent one year supporting the team on the ground in Kingston.

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Big up Munchy! You did a wonderful job supporting the team in Cassava Piece! HELP Jamaica! wishes to thank you for your volunteer service and wishes all the best for your future. Hoping very much to welcome you back at the center very soon!

Maximum respect & million thanks Munchy!!

In the presence of The Honourable Phillip Paulwell (Minister for Mining, Energy & ICT), Senator The Honourable Arnold Joseph Nicholson (Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade), and German Ambassador Josef Beck our new solar photovoltaic power system was formally handed over and introduced to the media and public. Children, parents, staff and supporters joined the distinguished guests in a cheerful function that was highlighted by the unveiling of the power processor.

Through the generous donation by the German Embassy HELP Jamaica! received both brand new panels and an electronic system, and is now able to sustain itself with solar energy. The equipment was delivered and installed through RED (Renewable Energy Developers), a Dutch company based in Montego Bay, mid-November and is already in operation.

The green project does not only help to reduce costs on electricity but furthermore promotes the Education Center as a role-model for renewable energy to give the people in the surrounding communities an understanding of photovoltaic power, its ecological benefits and diverse usability.

Video by the ‘Jamaican Observer’:

Video by HELP Jamaica!:

Due to the great success and the high attendance at our educational programs and classes, our Center had a constantly increased demand for electricity in the past. Thanks to the German Embassy in Kingston this will no longer be a problem. The HELP Jamaica! Education Center is happy to announce the completion of its photovoltaic solar system that has been installed on the roof of the building at 5 Cassava Piece Road, Kingston 8.

Through a generous donation by the German Embassy our aspiring young NGO, a collaboration between German and Jamaican partners, received both brand new panels and an electronic system, and is now able to sustain itself with solar energy. The equipment was delivered and installed through RED (Renewable Energy Developers), a Dutch company based in Montego Bay, last weekend and is already in operation.

The green project does not only help to reduce costs on electricity but furthermore promotes the Education Center as a role-model for renewable energy to give the people in the surrounding communities an understanding of photovoltaic power, its ecological benefits and diverse usability.

An official opening ceremony will be held on-site on Thursday, December 13, 2012  having Ministers of Government and the German ambassador, His Excellency Josef Beck inaugurate the solar system and introduce it to media and public.