Bureau of Gender Affairs Plants Trees at Women’s Centre in Santa Cruz

The Bureau of Gender Affairs held a tree-planting exercise at the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Outreach Centre in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, in recognition of National Tree Planting Day, which was observed on October 4.

The activity was also done in recognition of International Day of Rural Women (IDRW), which will be observed on October 15 under the theme ‘Empowering Rural Women, Achieving a Sustainable Future’.

Acting Director for the Community Liaison Unit at the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Nardia McLaren, told JIS News that the Bureau has partnered with Women Centres in Mandeville, Manchester, and Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, as well as the Elletson Road Primary and Infant School in Kingston, and the Spanish Town Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), to replant trees.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, many places lost trees, lost forestry, lost a lot of plants. So, we wanted to use this initiative to restore our roots and plant a tree today. In observance of International Day of Rural Women, we have a suite of events that we have in mind going forward,” she said.

Ms. McLaren added that there will be other activities in the coming days to commemorate IDRW, following the IDRW Sustainability Hike, which took place on October 5.

Another event will be International Day for the Girl Child, which will be commemorated October 11 at the Homestead residential facility in St. Andrew.

International Day for the Girl Child will be observed under the theme: ‘Girls’ vision for the future’.

Also part of the slate of activities is an IDRW church service, which will be held at the Yallahs Baptist Church in St. Thomas.

On October 15, there will be the Roof Display, IDRW Media Launch and Farmers’ Market at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in Kingston.

This will be followed by a Youth Forum, called Rural Girls Rock, which will be held at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland, and a Financial Literacy Workshop, to be held at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church in St. Ann.

Activities for the IDRW celebrations will culminate with a Women’s Empowerment Forum, to be held on Friday, October 25 at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

This event will also consist of an agricultural display and media highlight of the resilience women and girls have displayed to advance Jamaica’s agriculture, community and their homes.

Meanwhile, Ms. McLaren underscored the importance of the IDRW theme and elaborated on the significance of sustainability.

“In order for us to develop our families, communities and for our nation to thrive, we must have a sustainable future, hence why sustainability is important. For development to happen, it must be sustainable. Everyone must have access to work, quality healthcare, education and agricultural practices,” she emphasised.