KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Residents of August Town have expressed appreciation to the University of Technology (UTech) and its partners for hosting a wellness fest aimed at strengthening the social and economic fabric of the community.

At the event, community members were engaged through a health and information fair, where persons had access to oral-health screening and basic medical checks.  

They also had access to information regarding basic civil documents such as their taxpayer registration number (TRN), birth registration and obtaining a certificate, and other activities.  

Local entertainment and a football competition staged in ‘Africa Gardens’ brought a smooth end to the staging of the intervention on Sunday, February 26.

The social intervention involved collaboration among the University of Technology (UTech), the Papine Development Area Committee, National Integrity Action, Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) and the Social Development Commission (SDC).

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Director in the Department of Community Services and Development at UTech, Paulton Gordon said he was pleased with the impact that the event was having on the community.

“There are about 10 communities involved here and everybody seems to be calm and cooperating, and that’s the thing we want to build and to ensure they understand, that although they are in a different part of the community, they are all one.  This sort of activity (football) helps with the bonding,” he said. 

He noted that due to the successful implementation of the strategy, the University would have no reason to not make this an annual affair and expand it into other areas.

Kintyre has already benefited from this intervention. Other communities soon to benefit include Gordon Town, Maryland, and Standpipe.

For his part, field supervisor at SDC, Darron Murray, had high praises for the staging of the intervention, noting that the impact it had went way beyond what words could describe.

“What this does is help to smooth things down, calm things down. The sports derby brought out persons from all sections of August Town in unity.  Not only does it bridge the peace gap, it also helps to build healthy lifestyles, as it involved persons of various age levels and various cross sections of the community,” he noted.

Community Case Management Officer at CSJP, Angella Harris expressed delight, while noting that she was not surprised at the success the strategy yielded.

“You should have seen the number of persons who came out to access the different services offered. They just walked out of their homes and had everything right there. The football competition is a good partnership, and it was prudent for CSJP to be here.  That kind of access speaks volumes,” she said.

She reiterated that it is was important at this time to reach out to unattached young people in a holistic manner. 

Meanwhile, Coordinator and Community Advocate. Keith Henry, popularly known in August Town as ‘Tess’ said he is grateful to the partners who have come on board and have made a real difference to the lives of the residents in August Town.  

He said with their assistance, they now live a more relaxed life. 

Jennifer Winder, a resident of August Town for more than 26 years, was beyond herself with excitement at the positive impact the intervention, especially the sports derby, is having on the community.

“It is good for the community, [it] brought down the crime, everybody is at one and we love it. I applaud UTech and the SDC and all the others involved. We [really] appreciate it,” she said.