Mama Africa Arise & Unite Initiative facilitates community development

Mama Africa Arise & Unite, a community-development programme and cultural showcase, was recently staged at Di Atlantic Entertainment Centre in Manchioneal, Portland, Jamaica.

The theme, 'One Perfect Love', forms the foundation of its mission to facilitate community development and empower communities, with a special focus on youth and girls.

Having spent the last four months doing the research and accessing and building the social and human capital of communities in Portland and St Thomas, Elissa Issachar, founder of this initiative, was commended by Mayor of Port Antonio Paul Thompson.

"This Mama Africa Arise & Unite project is fully endorsed by the Portland Municipal Corpora-tion as a good move which has the potential to increase the consciousness of our citizens about their history and their roots through exposure to African cultural expressions. It is projects like these which will help create the development of the social capital needed at the community level to enhance the national-development process," said Thompson.

'Love is missing'

The mayor recalled a Jamaica of yesteryear where peace, love and respect abounded. "Today, love is missing," he said. He added that we need to "get love in the hearts of the youth. We need Jah to take us out of these problems". The vision of Mama Africa Arise & Unite of uniting Africans to rise in liberation, self-reliance, peace, truth and love will find its way into Jamaica's schools and communities to help bring about a kinder and gentler Jamaica that is more culturally and historically aware of its roots.

To bring the message home, Thompson recited a quote by National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey: "A people without knowledge of their history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots."

Dr Fenton Ferguson, member of parliament for Eastern St Thomas, was represented by Cordinal Beckford, special assistant, who shared a message of full support.

"Dr Ferguson is aware that you have been in this constituency doing some work with the brethren and sistren in the community, and he wants to encourage you that he will be on board to give you the necessary support," he said.