EFJ hosted three islandwide Proposal Writing Workshops in Kingston, Manchester, and St. James in the month of March. EFJ project staff was on hand to provide information and guidelines on preparing EFJ specific project proposals for submission in the EFJ 2011 CALL for Proposals. A total of 57 persons from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based groups, (CBOs) academic institutions and other donor organizations received useful tips from the facilitator Mr. Peter Wright, during these one-day workshops.

The Association of Development Agencies recently held an Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Workshop under the EFJ funded project Conducting Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Workshops for NGOs. EFJ staff members Barrington Lewis and Asha Bobb-Semple along with representatives from NGOS and CBOs islandwide were trained in energy conservation measures and how to conduct a basic energy audit within their organizations.

The EFJ Project team participated in the Project Inception workshop held on February 10th, 2011 for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded Strengthening the Operational and Financial Sustainability of the National Protected Area System project. This project is implemented by the National Environment and Planning Agency and seeks to:

  • Strengthen planning and revenue generation
  • Rationalize and integrate the national system protected areas
  • Increase the effectiveness of protected area management

EFJ participated in the Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation (JSDF) Press Launch of its Resource Guide on Monday, March 21, 2011, in recognition of World Down’s Syndrome Day.

In 2007 EFJ awarded a grant of $1.3M to the JDSF to establish a database of families in Jamaica with children 18 years old and under with Down’s Syndrome and to heighten awareness through public education and dissemination of printed literature to families, agencies, health facilities, and caregivers. The publication of the JSDF Resource Guide is a step towards public education and awareness.