Every year, support groups flock the island to render much needed help and a few individuals have succeeded in establishing programs which teach, encourage and provide long lasting support to the island’s children. In 2008, Brenda Isaac visited the Anchovy School near her 17-acre luxury villa Highland House in Anchovy just outside of Montego Bay. The former corporate event planner from Atlanta, who spends her time between the States and Jamaica, made the shocking discovery that many of the children did not come to school with lunch or lunch money, and stayed hungry throughout the day. And that was sufficient motivation for Brenda to want to help.
Figuring out how best to provide a lasting program to feed the youngsters, she reached out to the ‘Alliance for a New Humanity’, a global group that connects people who are interested in creating a peaceful, sustainable world through personal and social transformation. “I joined hands with another member of the alliance who was part of a program called ‘Urban Farming’. We started by building a small organic garden at the school,” explains Brenda. “Then, we built a small kitchen at the school to prepare food, through funding by some volunteers,” she adds. The small garden and the kitchen have generated many much needed meals for children at the school.
“Importantly, the project has gotten the children involved in the process of basics farming, starting with the preparation of the soil to the proud moment of harvesting the produce,” states Brenda. Before long, the project outgrew its small school garden, so Brenda hired a farmer and designated two acres of her property to extend the organic garden.
Soon, guests at the Highland House started to ask questions about the project. Many ended up visiting the school and became involved. “We tell them the story of what we are doing at the school, and invite them to come with us to deliver food — that’s where the magic begins,” explains Brenda.
For many guests, a visit to the school has been an eye-opening experience. Many have opened up both their hearts and pocket books to help. One example is David Stonecipher, a retired executive for Lincoln Financial who offered to buy the school a new PA system after listening to several gargling announcements during his visit.
Currently, the project is funded through a percentage of the accommodation cost paid by Highland House guests, which is set aside for the school. The project has acquired non-profit status, a Board and the name ‘One Love Learning’.
The organization’s long-term goal is to connect three schools via an international satellite network, the original school in Jamaica, a school in the Sudan, Africa and a school in Atlanta, US. Says Brenda, “We aim to connect children from different parts of the world, so they can experience diversity, while recognizing their similarities and unity.”
“The children in Jamaica, for example, are 99 percent black, but they have no real affiliation with Africa,” Brenda points out. “When I went to Africa and visited a school there, it was so interesting because they couldn’t tell you where Jamaica was on a map, but they all knew Bob Marley,” she adds.
The initiative also includes a teacher’s exchange program among the three schools, so that students can learn the geography, history, music, art and language of the two other countries from a native teacher. Additionally, students will be able to ‘meet’ face-to-face via satellite and exchange letters in pen-pal fashion.
Visitors who look beyond the resort walls to befriend the locals will find a warm and welcoming people, who for the most part live a simple life and helping people in this wonderful country can be a rewarding experience.
If you are interested in getting involved with the ‘One Love Learning’ program, visit www.onelovelearningfoundation.org, email brendaisaac@comcast.net or call 678-907-9401.
