Equip 200 Jamaican Youth to Combat Climate Change

Dear Friends of ACDI/VOCA:

Thanks to you, Climate Camp not only proved successful but exceeded expectations! Indeed, what was initially planned as a one-day camp that then transitioned into a five-day training, became an event with weeklong sessions in two locations in Jamaica attended by several hundred youth.

The credit for expanding the scope of the original project—and making Climate Camp available to more Jamaican youth--goes to:

• ACDI/VOCA staff in Jamaica for their energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to take a great idea, and share it with more young people for even greater impact;
• The Jamaica Library Service for making both the Kingston & St. Andrews Parish and Portland Parish libraries available;
• Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency, the JPS Foundation (philanthropic arm of the Jamaica Public Service Company), the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, and the Water Resources Authority of Jamaica for actively supporting Climate Camp;
• and, the many individual volunteers who gave freely of their time to ensure Climate Camp’s efficient operation

Climate Camp ran July 10^th through July 14^th in Kingston & St. Andrews Parish, and in Portland Parish, July 17^th through July 21^st.  Here are highlights and photos from each week:

Kingston & St. Andrews Parish (7/10-7/14)

Campers began the week with arts and crafts depicting the effects of climate change, followed by a series of games, interactive discussion, and special presentations. A busy week ended with tree planting exercises assisted by representatives of the National Environment and Planning Agency’s Forestry Department, and the JPS Foundation.

Portland Parish (7/17-7/21)

The second week of Climate Camp was just as busy as the first, starting with a presentation by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to campers on renewable energy. Midweek, the younger campers created a special “Climate Camp Tree,” with leaves featuring terms relating to climate change and global warming.  As with the previous week in Kingston & St. Andrews Parish, the week in Portland Parish concluded with the planting of trees by campers.

With Climate Camp behind them, campers can reflect upon their experiences and what they learned, and know they can be “the change in climate change” in their communities.