50 beautification, clean-up projects completed in Clarendon as CMC partners with OSAY
Published:Wednesday | March 20, 2024 | 12:10 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams has emphasised the significance of partnership in driving societal progress and communal prosperity.
His comments followed the successful collaboration between the Clarendon Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Operation Save a Youth (OSAY), an initiative spearheaded by the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) community.
The initiative, which culminated on Sunday, saw the completion of more than 50 beautification and clean-up projects across Clarendon.
“Through the partnership [with OSAY] we were able to have a wider span of cleaning up – not only in May Pen, but in several other communities across the parish. When you have more hands, you will be able to accomplish and achieve what you want. The Adventists coming on board made an absolutely wonderful difference. They also donated beds and wheelchair to the hospital,’’ said Williams.
More than 2,000 SDA youth came on board to see the fruition of the project.
OSAY also donated five beds to the Clarendon Infirmary, and more than 100 care packages.
Collin Henry, chairman of commercial services and councillor for the Thompson Town division in Northwestern Clarendon, also commended the initiative.
“This is a good move for the town centre, because May Pen is a market district and, for sure, we welcome any level of partnership that we can get, and to have OSAY with over 2,000 persons in the parish [to assist] spells volume for us. They were also in my division – at the health and community centres,” Henry told The Gleaner.
Henry, also a member of the divestment committee, further pledged that enhancing the surroundings of the market and advancing commercial services in May Pen stood as paramount priorities.
SUCCESSFUL STAGING
Pastor Dwayne Scott, director overseeing the youth, children, and adolescent affairs at the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, expressed his delight regarding the successful seventh staging of OSAY.
Scott told The Gleaner that the principles underpinning OSAY were rooted in the values of philanthropy and humanitarianism.
“OSAY is an initiative where we engage young people to execute acts of service for one day, and this year we decided to come to Clarendon,” Scott said, adding that the team comprised of members of Adventist churches in Clarendon, Manchester and St Catherine.
Alongside town centre, community and beach clean-ups, OSAY also hosted a health and education expo at Bargain Village in May Pen, which was also the venue for its jam-packed gospel concert on Sunday.
Numerous students at the secondary and tertiary levels were also awarded scholarships.
Scott said it was of paramount importance for the Church to engage in acts of charity, asserting charity as a display of compassion and empathy deeply ingrained within the fabric of religious teachings. He also asserted the Church as a beacon of hope and solidarity, which inspires others to extend a helping hand to those in need.
Shantal Blake, an Adventist for two decades, said, “Being a part of the Adventists is just overwhelming. It’s fun, and we have a lot of projects. We are young people who are geared up and ready to share the gospel in whatever way we can.”
For Blake, the opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of others resonated deeply, and aligned with her desire to make a meaningful difference in the world.
Intern pastor, Giovanni Brown, 22, of the Mandeville SDA, lauded OSAY as a guiding beacon, steering youth towards the path of righteousness and compassion.
“Being a part of OSAY allows us to be a part of a larger purpose that ourselves, because these projects we do really touch the lives of people, because it’s the gospel we’re sharing – the love of Jesus,” Brown posited.
In encouraging youth to tap into charitable ventures, Brown said, “Life becomes more fulfilling when you recognise life is not about you.”
OSAY’s eighth staging will culminate in St Catherine next year.