 Details
Name: Urban Renewal Liveable Neighborhoods Bahamas
Categories: Education
Environment
Culture
Description:
Description:
The Urban Renewal Liveable Neighbourhoods Programme, officially launched in January 2008 - and is part of The Ministry of Labour and Social Development.
The programme partners with community groups to improve the quality of life and living conditions of Bahamians in target project areas.
Services and programmes are provided for children, families, the disabled and the elderly in an effort to positively restore, enhance and reinforce their way of life and capacity to perform life tasks.
Since its inception, The Urban Renewal Programme has provided a number of programmes and activities for several communities throughout New Providence. There are currently nine locations for The Urban Renewal centres in New Providence; Englerston, Farm Road, Bain and Grants Town, St. Cecilia’s, Kemp Road, Nassau Village, Fox Hill, Pinewood Gardens and Fort Charlotte. Within the coming months, centres will be opened in Yellow Elder and the Carmichael area.
Englerston
The Englerston Urban Renewal Centre has been chosen for the pilot program and is the focal point of the Urban Renewal Programme. Many of the programs and activities launched there will be replicated at the other nine centres.
One such program is the clean up initiative. In an effort to clean up the surrounding community, The Englerston Urban Renewal Centre encouraged residents to participate in their clean up campaign. Residents were asked to place all household garbage in bags (provided by Ministry of Housing) to the front of their properties for pick up by The Department of Environmental Health. Bulk waste and derelict vehicles were removed from the area. Street-signs, stand pumps and street-lights were also identified for repairs, replacements or construction. On Saturday 5th, April 2008, the children of the Englerston community participated in a massive clean up campaign of the zone one area. Afterward, the children were treated to breakfast at the Englerston office.
Another initiative put on by the centre was the Peace Rally, which was held on 15th March 2008. The theme of the rally being ‘Let Peace Begin With Me’, the youth of the community were encouraged to reject and speak out against violence. Several competitions such as peace pledge, rap, singing, poetry and choral reading contests were held. Over four thousand students, many of them from schools in the Englerston area, participated in this event.
The Englerston Urban Renewal Centre also assists in the positive development of the youth in their community through their Boys and Girl’s Club. The club aims to meet particular needs of the youth through education and mentorship and encourages them to grow mentally, physically, spiritually and socially.
The Boy’s Club, known officially as The Ebenezer Boys Club Academy, meets on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some of the activities engaged in are swimming, visits to the Public Library and occasional trips overseas during the summer months such as an upcoming trip to the Berry Islands, scheduled for August 23rd, 2008.
The Girl’s Club, or The Englerston Mentoring Club, also meets on Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. As the name suggests, there is a strong focus here on a mentorship programme. The girls are involved in reading, dance and music programmes, are taught proper grooming skills and during more relaxed times play games. The girls also enjoy the occasional summer trip to one of the Family Islands.
Kemp Road
One of the objectives of Urban Renewal Liveable Neighborhoods is to create wealth. Empowerment seminars and job fairs have become an integral part of The Kemp Road Urban Renewal Centre. An important goal of the centre was to create a more successful community by helping to transform its residents into productive, contributing members of society. To achieve this goal, it was understood that the mindset of the people had to change, especially their attitudes towards work as well as themselves. For this reason the merger of the fair and seminar was brought to the people.
The job fair helps prevent the hassle of preparation and expense in finding a job. Instead of having to travel from place to place in search of a job, virtually everything is brought to the people. Hiring businesses were brought in, as well as photographers, resume writers and The Criminal Records Department, who provided police records on site.
On February 2nd, 2008, the Job Fair’s Empowerment Seminar attempted to encourage the jobseekers to improve their work ethic and maintain a high level of decorum as well as a positive attitude on the job. Tips on how to ace interviews were also given. Motivational speakers such as Michael Pintard and Archdeacon James Palacious spoke on topics such as ‘not turning back’ and ‘It’s not what you are called, but what you answer to that matters.’ Jobseekers were urged to look within in an effort to adjust negative self-perceptions and prevent disappointments from swaying their resolve in the search for gainful employment.
Fox Hill
Positive activity in the parks is high on the agenda in the Urban Renewal communities. On December 21st, 2007, the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre treated the children of the community to a Christmas Party on Freedom Park. This event was made possible with the sponsorship of churches, businesses and members of the community.
Some of the activities for the day were a bouncing castle, face painting and balloon making done by the day’s clown, and the distribution of gifts and goody bags handed out to the children by a volunteer Santa Claus.
At lunchtime, hotdogs, popcorn, soft-drinks, cakes and ice-cream were served. In spite of the light showers throughout the day, the children had an excellent time.
The Fox Hill Centre also organized an Overcomers Concert in the park held on May 3rd, 2008. It began with a prayer by Apostle David McCartney, Pastor of Full Life Pentecostal Ministries. Emily ‘Sweet Emily’ Williams performed her rendition of the ‘Our Father’ prayer. She also shared her testimony with the audience. Other performers included Cravon Ellis, Pastor Clint Watson and Shabach, Singaton and Reuben Heights. In keeping with the concert’s theme, the group Platinum Soldiers gave an energetic performance of their song, aptly titled ‘Overcomers’. The day came to an end with a performance by Naji Dunn who expressed his testimony through song and closed out with a benediction.
In January, the Fox Hill Centre, along with the centres at Bain and Grant’s Town and Farm Road invited the children of their respective communities to an evening at the Carnival. The children were allowed free admission and were permitted complimentary use of all carnival rides for the entire evening.
Also taking an interest in the elderly residents in the community, Fox Hill Centre held a Thanksgiving service for its seniors at St. Paul’s Baptist Church on Bernard Road. Among the special guests in attendance were the Hon. Fred Mitchell, Dr. Jacinta Higgs and Mr. Brensil Rolle, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Housing and National Insurance, who stressed the importance for unity and co-operation between all in order to foster and maintain development within the community. Mr. Rolle especially highlighted the fact that both Mr. Mitchell and Dr. Higgs pledged their support to the success of the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre and the community. Reverend Dr. J. Carl Rahming gave the Thanksgiving sermon and Senator Higgs urged the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre to work along with the Ministry of Tourism in bringing Cultural Heritage Tourism to Fox Hill. The evening was concluded as every senior received a carnation and Thanksgiving meal before leaving.
Farm Road
The job of cultivating today’s youth is undoubtedly an important one. The centre at Farm Road is assisting in this task with the implementation of youth oriented programmes such as their Urban Renewal Liveable Neighbourhoods Project Band.
The band is helping to bring the young people of the community together, giving them a chance to put their energies into a creative outlet. This helps to increase discipline, a sense of responsibility and promotes positive character attributes like self-respect, confidence, as well as an ability to work well with others.
This program aims to assist in the reduction of crime by enforcing positive activities and thereby enforcing positive ideas that can aid as a deterrent from delinquent behaviour. It also aims to strengthen academic programmes and assist business and social groups in mentoring our youth towards becoming productive citizens in society.
The Farm Road Centre band meets on Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and boasts more than sixty committed band members and flagets.
Nassau Village
Senior citizens are unfortunately a largely neglected group in many communities. The Urban Renewal Project has put in effect several initiatives to help change this. The provision of aid for those who require it is one example, as well as programmes and activities that are geared toward empowering seniors and assisting them in enjoying their golden years.
Each of the Urban Renewal Centres in New Providence frequently tends to the needs of their respective communities. Walkabouts are frequently done in search of community members most in need of aid, most typically housing, food and health issues.
A large amount of those residents requesting aid tend to be senior citizens whose requests are worked on with the highest priority. Events are also frequently put together for the seniors in an attempt to honor them while at the same time providing them with them an enjoyable outing.
On November 26th, 2007, the Urban Renewal Centre in Nassau Village, together with The Nassau Village Community Association and The Department of Social Services held a ‘Celebrate Seniors’ Thanksgiving celebration for the senior citizens in their community. The Thanksgiving meal and church service was held at the Last Days Gospel Assembly Hall. In attendance was the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, M.P. for Sea Breeze and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. Deputy Director Mrs. Mavis Darling Hill and Chief Senior Officer Mrs. Zonovia Mills of The Department of Social Services, as well as Ms. Ella Lewis, coordinator of The Urban Renewal Programme were also there for the special service.
In April a newly launched senior citizens program came into effect. Its first event took place on Sunday, April 27th, 2008, where seniors from the Nassau Village area worshipped at The Pentecostal Baptist Church and listened to a sermon by Rev. Dr. Felton Rolle.
The Nassau Village centre also honored the mothers of Nassau Village on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 with a post mother’s Day celebration. The event took place at Anderson house in Nassau village. The day ended with many expressions of gratitude from the touched seniors.
Fort Charlotte
One initiative put forth by the Fort Charlotte Urban Renewal Centre is the creation of The Fort Charlotte Steering Committee. The steering committee was formulated mainly to assist in the creation of wholesome activities and programs that will provide sustainability in the regrowth and rebuilding of a safer, cleaner and care-free environment. As this goal is better achieved through networking with those who are interested in improving the status of the less fortunate in our society, partnerships are necessary. The centre encourages sponsors, (i.e. church and community leaders, residents, business owners and school administrators) to assist in the effort of making a positive difference in the quality of life of the underprivileged among us.
The steering committee is responsible for organizing activities and programs such as clean-up campaigns to help improve community’s environments and provide continued awareness for sustainability of cleaned-up areas. It is also responsible for the introduction and implementation of programs that helps to transform and empower people. The senior citizens of the Fort Charlotte community play an integral part in the workings of the committee. Considered to be community mentors, seniors are called upon to help put programs together and give advice on community matters. They tend to give consistently reliable help in the centre’s activities and programs.
Along with Fort Charlotte, the other eight Urban Renewal Centres have teamed up with pastors of their respective areas to form a pastoral committee. The purpose of this committee is to assist church leaders with meeting the needs of the community. The Fort Charlotte centre provides support in such endeavors as church outreach programmes. St. Michaels Methodist Church, for example, receives assistance from the Fort Charlotte centre with their outreach programme. Relief packages, which can contain a variety of items such as foodstuffs and clothing, are put together by the church and its members. These are delivered to needy persons in the community by centre workers.
The pastors also work with the centre in finding and referring members of the community who are most in need of aid. This form of networking helps in meeting community needs in a timely and efficient manner.
St. Cecilia
Providing opportunities in order to increase the wealth of communities is an important goal of the Urban Renewal Programme.
In St. Cecilia, the Urban Renewal centre is helping to achieve this goal by encouraging community members to learn a trade. This teaches persons how to become self- efficient and improve their standard of living by way of a regular income.
The St. Cecilia centre offers Straw Craft and Jewelry Craft classes, teaching persons of all ages how to make products such as straw bags and cosmetic jewelry. These classes are held on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.; however some persons occasionally come in through the week to hone their skills. Many students have also taken these skills and turned them into a viable profession by selling their hand-made creations.
The centre also takes a special interest in the youth, providing them with constructive programs such as the St. Cecilia Urban Renewal Band. Practice is held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and boys and girls whose ages range from 7 to 22 years come together to experience fellowship and growth through music.
Apart from the typical theory and practical music lessons given, the band programme also acts as an after school outreach programme. Youth can receive help with their homework and studies after school, they are given speech and etiquette lessons and will even receive counseling if it is needed.
Pinewood
Apart from its regular duties of tending to the community’s needs, The Pinewood Urban Renewal Centre has consistently provided parenting workshops for the Pinewood community. The purpose of these workshops is to educate, inform and mentor parents towards improving their parenting skills. On May 6th, 2008, the parents in the Pinewood community took part in a seminar. Some attendants confided that the seminar was the only support system available to them with regards to rearing and receiving help for their children. Guest speakers for the evening included Dr. Sandra Dean Patterson, Ms. Rhonda Bain and Mr. Leonard Cargill of the Crisis Centre, who gave parenting advice and took information from those in need of future counseling.
Bain & Grant’s Town
The Bain and Grant’s Town Urban Renewal Centre offers after school programs that provide safe, structured activities to help children learn new skills and develop into responsible adults.
The Youth Empowered to Succeed (YES) after school programme is one such programme. Seeking to enhance the Bain & Grant’s Town community by enriching the lives of its children, the programme provides a structured and supportive environment that promotes social, physical, intellectual and emotional development. Activities may cover such topics as technology, reading, math, science and creative arts such as dance and band class.
The centre also focuses on a computer programme for children. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for children 6 to 11 years old.
Basic computer introduction is taught (i.e. turning the computer on and off, how to use the keyboard and mouse, etc.) as well as programmes such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
The Bain and Grants Town centre also has a band that meets regularly on Saturdays from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Music theory is taught at the centre, but the actual playing of instruments takes place on the government park on Cockburn St. Many of the children in the band want to become musicians. This programme helps to cultivate the skills needed to achieve such aspirations.
===================================
===================================
URBAN RENEWAL
CENTRES IN
NEW PROVIDENCE
HEAD OFFICE
TEL: 328-1728/9
FARM ROAD
TEL: 323-5314
BAIN & GRANTS
TOWN
TEL: 323-0234-6/9
ENGLERSTON
TEL: 325-0585/6
KEMP ROAD
TEL: 394-7967
FT. CHARLOTTE
TEL:328-1946/7
NASSAU VILLAGE
TEL:394-2642/3
ST. CECILIA
TEL: 328-2640/1
PINEWOOD
TEL: 392-3362
FOX HILL
TEL: 364-8310/1
Send a message: urban_renewal@groups.takingitglobal.org
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