Dear Reader,

Father Gregory Ramkissoon, founder and head of Mustard Seed Communities, has clearly taken the name of his organisation seriously and literally. Through his public statements and his bold and innovative actions, he is proving that the biggest and strongest trees can grow from a tiny mustard seed.

Mustard Seed Communities is not just a charitable, not-for-profit organisation that provides services for children with special needs in Jamaica. Mustard Seed is a model that has attracted international recognition and replication, and is proving to be one of the most efficient and effective nongovernmental entities in the region, if not the world.

This incredibly dynamic and invaluable organisation was started 34 years ago by Father Ramkissoon, a Roman Catholic clergyman, in the depressed community of Mona Common in Kingston. The organisation’s objective is to “provide the enrichment and empowerment of the spiritually, psychologically, and financially poor that live in urban communities to assist them in leaving the cycle of frustration and hopelessness that dominate their lives”.

As a result of Father Ramkissoon’s vision and commitment to the poor and the underserved, and the unflagging dedication of his staff, Mustard Seed has witnessed phenomenal growth and development.

Four years after the official start-up operations, a Day Care Centre and Day School were established at Mona Commons. This was followed by the opening in 1985 of the first official home for children with disabilities, and a year later, the establishment of the White Wing community’s farming and block-making enterprises.

In 1989, the official opening of My Father’s House at Mahoe Drive in Kingston took place, and a few years later, in 1993, the opening of another house, Mary’s Child.

Spanish Town was to benefit from the expansion of Mustard Seed when a home named Jerusalem was established, followed by the opening of Sophie’s Place in Gordon Town in 1997.

There are 18 Caring Apostolates of Mustard Seed now established or under construction in several parishes in Jamaica, as well as in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe. All the apostolates care for abandoned and disabled children, homeless, pregnant teenagers, and young adults and babies afflicted with HIV/AIDS.

Abandoned and orphaned HIV/AIDS-infected children in Jamaica would soon benefit from the founding of a special programme named Dare to Care. The first apostolate for Dare to Care children was opened to seven HIV positive children in September 14, 2000. Dare To Care’s first official home was established in St Catherine for 20 children. Filled to capacity after two years of operation, another home called Matthew 25:40 was started in Kingston, followed by the establishment of Martha’s House, a facility recently rebuilt in St Catherine.

Mustard Seed’s reach into other countries is equally phenomenal. In 2002, Mustard Seed was asked to share its model and to duplicate its programmes in Zimbabwe due to the increasing needs surrounding HIV/AIDS children in that country. Two houses for children were established, one named Freedom and the other Generosity — the former designated for young babies who are HIV positive and the latter for children between 5 and 10 years old. Similar operations exist in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

As if the programmatic achievements were not impressive enough, Father Ramkissoon has worked equally hard to ensure that Mustard Seed is financially stable and self-sufficient. The impressive list of income-generating businesses includes the manufacturing of greeting cards, a bakery, printery and a ceramics manufacturing unit.

Mustard Seed also operates a chicken farm producing 1200 eggs per day, a sheep-rearing operation, an ornamental plant nursery, and a fish farm, among other income-earning projects. Most significantly, Mustard Seed is the owner of the community radio station, ROOTS FM.

It is clear that having “faith as a mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20), continues to be Father Ramkissoon’s motto. Despite the huge responsibilities, the Mustard Seed head announced recently that his organisation is willing and ready to take in the children who are now housed in adult correctional facilities by the state. I sincerely hope that the government is moving with alacrity to facilitate that critical partnership.

In a country where talk is premium and action scarce, and where few with influence put their money where their mouths are, Father Ramkissoon’s Mustard Seed Communities has proved that “faith as a mustard seed”, watered and nurtured with love and commitment, can produce big trees and move big mountains.

Thank you, Father Ramkissoon.

With love,

bab2609@yahoo.com