Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

Richard Darby, founding member of the Manchioneal Community Development Committee, addresses other committee members at the site of their chicken-rearing project in Manchioneal, Portland, on Tuesday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

For the Manchioneal community in Portland, there is real meaning to the phrase, 'strength in numbers'. What began as a project to clean up an abandoned park has in the short space of a decade become a community building phenomenon.

"About 60 people turned out to help cut the field, some cutting, others cooking to provide the food," said Richard Darby, a founding member of the Man-chioneal Community Development Committee. It was at that point they realised they could have an impact by working together.

The community, already renowned for its participation in Jamaica Cultural Development Commission festivals, winning six gold medals this year alone and representing the island internationally at locations such as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is one of seven nominees for the 2008 Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.

Umbrella organisations

The committee is also parent to more than 15 umbrella organisations (seven of which are churches) working towards the goal of providing not only a positive influence for younger members of the community, but also offering the support needed for all citizens to thrive in various areas of development.

"We stick to moral value and principle," said committee member and prominent community leader Denroy Palmer. "We have seen the direction that the youths are taking, we can't use the gun to solve the gun problem, the only way crime and violence can stop is through the community. We must respect them, we must show the youths that we care about them."

They began with sports; engaging the youth in football, track and field and cricket as a means of "keeping them off the streets". Then, with the aid of a grant from the Social Development Commission, the group started a chicken-rearing project and they all insisted on "sharing the profit". From the profits, tools were bought for farmers; persons were sent to computer classes; a fence was built for the basic school; a drainage system improved and a water-supply system installed.

Other projects

Following this, the committee developed a variety of other projects, including farming, fishing, tree planting, the construction of a multi-purpose court, construction of garbage receptacles, maintenance of the dental clinic, and the acquisition of a water tank for the health centre.

In addition to building a fire station, they now hope to develop eco-tourism and a diverse cultural programme to serve as alternative means of entertaining visitors to the area.