NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In celebration of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, members of the House of Rastafari assisted the Agriculture Department of Programme SURE by donating and planting fruit trees.
Programme SURE is a Ministry of Education initiative to assist at-risk young men better take advantage of opportunities in education.
Copeland “Ras Amen” Smith, who is a tree-planting ambassador for the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance and on the Executive Council of House of Rastafari, was on hand to make the donation and assist in planting the trees.
The trees donated include avocado, mango, sapodilla (dilly), moringa, almond, coconut and pomegranate, to name a few. The students, along with their agriculture teacher Mr Sweeting, worked along with Ras Amen to get the trees in the ground. It was a good example of intergenerational cooperation for a greater good. Students were also given a short talk on the need to plant trees and the benefits of doing such.
Agriculture and sustainability are two common goals of both organizations, so the exercise was mutually beneficial.
Charles Newbold, principal of Programme SURE, stated: “We are delighted to receive this donation and the assistance with planting as we celebrate Earth Day with our students in a meaningful way. It is a timely donation as we are in the process of rebuilding our agriculture program. We look forward to continued partnerships.”
Ras Amen commented: “It was honor for the House of Rastafari and the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance to join with Programme SURE to celebrate Earth Day by planting trees to restore our Earth. Never underestimate the power of planting trees in a fertile mind. Plant a tree; they capture carbon, cool overheated places, support pollinators, reduce the risk of disease transmission and boost local economies”.
House of Rastafari has taken on the challenge of assisting the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance in their mission of planting one million trees in the region this year in a battle against global warming.
The Bahamas and the region are already facing threats to sustainability as a result of global warming in very real ways: flooding, beach erosion, rising sea levels and more powerful hurricanes. Therefore, even though our carbon footprint (contribution to global warming) is relatively low compared to developed nations, it is vital that we play a role in reversing the effects.
House of Rastafari noted partnerships like these give the planet and the region a fighting chance, especially when involving the youth who must continue the battle.
The donation was a great help to Programme SURE, which is in the process of becoming more skills-based. Future students will be able to earn certificates in various areas, which would increase their ability to earn a living and contribute to society in a meaningful way. These certifications will be in a number of areas including restaurant service and agriculture.
The program is also working to become more self-sustaining. Fruit-bearing trees provide resources for building revenue streams to achieve that goal. Partnering with the community has always been an essential aspect of Programme SURE and this initiative is in keeping with that vein.
Programme representatives said they were “happy to be chosen by House of Rastafari to receive this donation” and described it as a gift that will keep on giving.
Ras Amen charged: “Talk to your member of Parliament about planting more trees and native garden beds in your community and consider planting your own on your property. One love, one aim, one destiny! Rastafari lives! Restore the earth!”
If you wish to donate to the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance Tree Planting Initiative and help plant one million trees throughout the islands, visit the website https://cariphilalliance.org, where you can also sign the petition to support a Tree Planting Week.
