My initial encounter with the Department of Geography was in 1972 at the undergraduate level. An experience which opened my mind to the following areas of awareness:

a. critical thinking (seeing the world through the eyes of others)

b. appreciating the need for theories of development/underdevelopment to be examined BOTH experientially and practically

c.the encouragement from all lecturers to create ‘new’ models and paradigms not only in spatial organisation, but most importantly, applying these to the world at large

d. recognising the need for positive inter-relationships between the developed and –under-developed ones.

I learnt to see myself as a change agent and contribute in my own way to authentic development. I went to the poorest of the poor (abandoned children with disabilities and unschooled children from a squatting community) to learn and in time, I saw the need to commit to these activities while encouraging others to do the same.

I saw ‘CARING CAPITAL’ as a foundation for developmental activity and vital in organizing poor, sometimes violent communities in the urban landscape. Having set the background for change, we then looked at ‘training’ activities (for self-development) and low-cost housing.

The experimentation with the above activities in urban and rural Jamaica, have led to invitations to do the same in Haiti, Dom. Rep., Nicaragua., Zimbabwe, and more recently in Cuba, Guatemala, Malawi and ten other countries. In all cases, inner-city Kingstonians have been sent to replicate our ‘model’ of development and people from the respective countries have been taught how to take over and run their projects.

Finally, I discovered the need to have all countries inter-relate with each other (rich and poor). This led us to form chapters and offices in the USA, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK. We then encouraged people to get involved in particular countries in which we serve. As an example, in 2016 we have 102 groups of twenty each (mainly Univ. students) from these countries visiting and working in Jamaica and other countries. Some groups have already booked their dates for 2017 and 2018!

Monsignor Gregory Rankissoon

Mustard Seed Communities