Sports complex for Pleasant Valley

PLEASANT VALLEY, Clarendon — An Alcoa Foundation-funded project to develop the Chinee Playfield in Pleasant Valley, Clarendon into a mini sports complex got underway recently.

The scope of work will include the cleaning and grading of the field, establishment of a cricket pitch, erection of concrete benches for spectators and the extension of rehabilitation of the 118.2 square metres-long access road to the sports grounds.

This project is one of three that Alcoa Foundation has funded at a cost of $140,000 each, under its Alcoans Coming Together in Our Neighbourhoods (ACTION) Programme, which seeks to encourage employees to go into communities and give voluntary labour. Jamalco, local affiliate of Alcoa, is co-ordinating the project.

Earthquake awareness

OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Approximately 200 students at the Ocho Rios Primary School in St Ann were Tuesday sensitised about disaster preparedness as part of Earthquake Awareness Week activities which is being observed from January 13 to 19.

The week of activities is being observed under the theme “Earthquakes have no season. Be aware, be prepared”.

Proposal Writing and Development workshop

KINGSTON — A three-day training workshop on Proposal Writing and Development for non-government organisations (NGOs) was convened Tuesday at the Anglican Deaconess House on Caledonia Avenue in Kingston.

The workshop is the initiative of the Council of Voluntary Social Services in collaboration with the Association of Development Agencies and the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica and is aimed at building capacity among NGOs, particularly in the area of human resource development.

Among the topics being covered are defining and writing proposals, budget formulation, fundraising and social marketing, and monitoring and reporting.

Human rights consultations today

KINGSTON — The consultations between the justice ministry and civic organisations aimed at strengthening and promoting human rights and justice systems and procedures, will continue today at the justice ministry, 2 Oxford Road, New Kingston, at 10:00 am.

The series of discussions began on November 20, 2001 with the participation of the attorney-general and minister of justice, A J Nicholson, who met with a number of special interest groups from civil society, as well as representatives from relevant government agencies in the national justice system.