Members of the Salt Spring, St James, an arm of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund Programme Group have installed water-harvesting systems at Salt Spring Primary and Infant School and Hartfield Basic School in the community.

The projects were funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with United Cities Local Governments (UCLG) and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (BCPI) at Johns Hopkins University in the United States (US).

The Youth Climate Action Fund Programme is being spearheaded in the parish by the St James Municipal Corporation, which received a $7.5-million grant under phase one of the initiatives. The programme provides grants ranging between $150,000 and $750,000 to groups of young people, aged 15 to 24, to undertake climate-related projects.

A selection committee evaluated project plans submitted by the groups to ensure the funds were used effectively and within Montego Bay. The Salt Spring projects were completed within a budget of $750,000, and included the installation of a 1,000-gallon water tank at Salt Spring Primary and two 880-
gallon tanks at Hartfield Basic School.

The Salt Spring group executed the project in collaboration with the local Community Development Committee (CDC). The group was one of several across the parish that benefited from the grant.
Group Project Leader, Clifton Ellis, tells JIS News that the water-harvesting projects were undertaken out of a need identified to supply the schools with the precious commodity. He noted the group learned much about climate change and its effects during the projects’ implementation, and thanked Bloomberg and the Municipal Corporation for their part in the execution.

During a visit to the schools on Tuesday, January 14, the Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, commended the group while underscoring the projects’ importance. “What I love about [the projects] is that they did not just pick [one] out of the hat. They said that this community needs water, and we are going to harvest it for the community, particularly for students. So, I commend you,” he stated. Councillor Vernon emphasised the importance of rainwater harvesting, noting that “we have challenges with piped water in these communities”.

“I know that supplying schools with potable water is important, especially with the little ones that are very vulnerable to all sorts of diseases. So, we must ensure that we protect them, and using the Climate Action Fund to activate this protection is very important,” he stated.

Councillor Vernon encouraged the Salt Spring group to continue being innovative, to think outside the box and to try accessing more funding to do more projects with the community.

The mayor added that phase two of the programme will see some $16 million in grants being dispensed to deserving youth groups that are chosen during the next selection process in April.

“So, we are moving into phase two, and we hope to do much of the same but to expand to other communities and to double down on projects that are very impactful, so that we can get more impact within the spaces and more communities that are served,” he said.

Councillor Vernon, who advised that there will be another application process, pointed out that, “since we started, persons now see what we were talking about before, and they are now trying to get on board”.
“They want something to be done in their community, and the fund is there for you to access. We will do as best as possible to make funding available for climate action because climate change is real,” the mayor said.

For her part, the Principal of Salt Spring Primary, Norma Brydson, expressed gratitude for the system, noting that it will alleviate some of the water supply challenges the institution has been experiencing.
As part of the day’s activities, Mayor Vernon visited other projects in the communities of Sudbury, Adelphi, Goodwill, Rose Mount Gardens and Rose Heights.