Baptist women now more self-sufficient

SOME women in the Jamaica Baptist Union are now able to be self sufficient as a result of their revolving agricultural project spearheaded by the church’s Women’s Federation.

The project, launched at the Boulevard Baptist Church on February 23, aims to have a minimum of 300 women from the Baptist Union becoming self sufficient by 2018.

According to Dr Wilma Grandison of the Baptist Union, the idea was conceptualised out of a need to assist sisters of the organisation to become more self-sufficient after there was a significant decline in the attendance at the annual conference a few years ago due to the loss of jobs, which caused a substantial decrease in the disposable income of the sisters.

“This key factor evoked a sense of concern hence the proposal of a programme aimed at taking back sisters to self sufficiency,” Dr Grandison said.

She further explained that the programme is funded though the Direct Aid Programme of the Australian High Commission at a value of US$30,000, and is designed to cover all 14 parishes.

Women who are part of this programme will receive animals or supplies, for example 50 chickens, five bags of feeding and two bags of medication. So far 6,000 birds have been distributed to the women involved.

However, one important aspect of the programme is how it will revolve.

“Proper record of activities and accounting must be kept and half yearly reports made to the committee,” Dr Grandison said.

“If the revolving section fails, the entire project will go down. After the women receive the animals and a harvest is made, part of the money will go back to the union to be passed to another sister.”

Enid Brown, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, said after 12 weeks into production of her chickens she surpassed a 50 per cent growth margin and was able to return the initial money to the programme and is on her way to two other chicken productions.

Also, Marjorie McDonald, another beneficiary, said she has also had success with the initiative.

“I heard about it, expressed interest, and received 50 chickens, five bags of feed, and two bags of medication, raised them, got them sold very quickly as I had the market for them. In two weeks I bought another 60 chickens, got them sold, and was able to buy 75, sold those, and sent back the money to the union so that someone else could receive a blessing,” she said.

Marjory Kennedy, honorary consul for Australia in Jamaica, said she was pleased by the camaraderie and dedication of the women and would pass on the passion she witnessed to those in control so the Australian government can see where their money is going.

Lenworth Fulton, CEO of RADA, commended the women and encouraged them to reach out to the agency as there are officers who will be able to assist if needs be.

And general secretary of the Baptist Union, Reverend Karl Johnson, also lauded the project and said he knows it will be successful as whatever women put their minds to, it will be done.