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As part of the first of its
Community Improvement Grants Scheme, the Global Environment Facility
– Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (GEF-IWCAM)
Project donated $J 3.6 M to the Build Jamaica Foundation. The funds
will be used to upgrade sanitation facilities at five schools in the
Drivers River Watershed Management Unit, in the process, eliminating
the use of pit toilets. Reach Primary and Infant, Rural Hill
Primary, Fair Prospect Primary, Fair Prospect Basic and Windsor
Forest Basic Schools will all benefit from the project.
The Grants Programme will
disburse the equivalent of US $100,000 to thirteen community
projects in support of the integrated approach to the sustainable
management of watersheds and coastal areas within the Drivers River
Watershed. All projects are expected to be completed by May 2009.
The GEF-IWCAM Project which is
managed by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
focuses on sustainable environmental practices in the Drivers River
Watershed and the development of a watershed management model for
Eastern Portland. The successes of the model will be implemented
later throughout the other twenty-five Watershed Management Units in
Jamaica, as well as the rest of the Caribbean.
In accepting the grant, Doreen
Brown, Coordinator of Build Jamaica Foundation expressed
appreciation on behalf of the many children who will benefit from
proper hygienic toilet facilities. She said that, they will perform
much better academically, as a result. The Build Jamaica Foundation
has been providing improved toilet facilities in basic schools over
the last ten years.
Funds from the Grant will be
used to target improving community solid waste management issues,
waste water treatment and solid waste management in schools,
protection of river and waterways and the protection of mangroves
and marine resources.
Other environmentally
sustainable programmes such as agro forestry, environmental
monitoring, training and capacity building, environmental awareness
programmes and any other activity that supports overall
sustainability of the environment within the Drivers River Watershed
will also be supported.
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