A homework and learning centre project in the community of Woodford, rural St. Andrew is the winner of the 9^th annual Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.

Woodford was declared the winner from a field of seven community projects at the awards ceremony put on by the Michael Manley Foundation at the Little Theatre.

Glynne Manley, widow of former Prime Minister Michael Manley, presents the Michael Manley Award for Community Self-reliance to members of the Woodford Community Action Group. From 2nd left are executive member of the group Neville Mais, president Cedric Pascoe and manager of the group's Homework and Learning Centre, Robert Hall. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Guest speaker, Prime Minister Bruce Golding described the community projects as an actualization of Michael Manley’s concept of self-reliance, as they were initiatives mounted by people who believed in themselves and who have demonstrated that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.  He said he welcomed the invitation to address the awards ceremony, adding that both the invitation and his acceptance represent the maturing evolution of Jamaica’s politics.

He underscored the fact that Michael Manley recognized the importance of the people and sought ways to mobilize and challenge them to think and reason, and to be aware of their dignity, self-worth and potential. The seven projects short-listed for the competition originated from rural Jamaica, a fact which Mr. Golding said proves that community development, engineered by the community itself, is achievable.  He noted that the benefits rest not just with the projects themselves, but are evident in the social cohesion and institutional capacity building.  

In commending the Woodford Homework and Learning Centre project, the Prime Minister said there were important lessons to be learnt from that project as well as the others entered in the competition  He urged the Michael Manley Foundation to study and document the modalities of these projects, in order to create a template that could be applied to other areas. 

Photo courtesy of The Jamaica Observer