NEW JAMAICAN. Issue 24. June 15th, 2009.

UNIA A-GROw PROJECT: BLACK TO THE SOIL
A Program of the Marcus Garvey Memorial Division

“The UNIA teaches our race self-help and self reliance, not only in one essential , but in all those things that contribute to human happiness and well-being.” - Marcus Garvey

The UNIA operates an Agricultural program on 7acres of farmland in the garden parish of St. Ann.

Envisioned literally as “ A GROW” project, the project focuses on promoting agricultural production among inner-city youth and includes bee farming and organic planting , encouraging members to plant “healthy” and eat what we grow!

At a time when young black males are succumbing to the ills of gang violence, and have seemingly lost their sense of purpose in serving their families and communities, the UNIA has adopted a holistic approach of reconnecting them with Mother Earth. With weekly farm trips and mandatory service hours, members participate in communal subsistence working together as a unit, tilling the soil and rebuilding family bonds.

An essential tool in re-socializing young men hardened by depressed communities, the UNIA “A Grow” project provides an environmental approach to the nation’s most pressing issue. Creating life instead of taking life and caring for that life through to fruition, indeed can have a profound influence on the psyche of our nation’s men!

The UNIA has been assisted by a number of agencies who are just as keen on promoting agriculture to a new generation. The A Grow project also presents future viable commercial opportunities that will stimulate collective work, responsibility and harness cooperative economics among members.

The introduction of bee farming is unique in teaching the concepts of discipline, patience, and devotion. For those who become familiar with the structure of a bee colony (hive), the lessons of commitment, duty and sacrifice as demonstrated by the bees, are uncanny in their social prescriptions for healthy and wholesome communities.

By promoting organic farming, the UNIA encourages all of its members to grow what they eat and give their support to what is not only a national initiative but a global necessity.

“God placed man on earth as the lord of Creation. The elements - all nature are at his command – It is for him to harness them, subdue them, and use them.” - Marcus Garvey

BLACKPRINT FOR NEW JAMAICA, the UNIA 2010 manifesto outlines current projects being undertaken by the UNIA in Jamaica and future projects set to come onstream within the year. It includes a number of photogrpahs of UNIA members at work on the various service programs and auxiliaries such as: THE UNIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; UNIA "A-GROW" PROJECT; THE BLACK CROSS AUXILIARY; UNIA HOME FOR YOUNG MEN; UNIA MONTHLY MASS MEETINGS; UNIA MONTHLY FILM SERIES. Electronic copies are available. Email uniajamaica@gmail.com

NEW JAMAICAN Vol.2