Media – Esirom Foundation

Eight Entities Get $160 Million in Grant Support from DBJ

Andrew Laidley — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:46:42 +0000

Eight medium-sized entities have received grants totalling $160 million to support their business ventures or innovations.

The support was provided by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) under its Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Innovation Grant Fund, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Each entity received $20 million to assist in the development and commercialisation of innovative products, services and processes and new business models.

The eight beneficiary companies, which represent the fourth cohort of BIGEE recipients, are Esirom Limited, Saddle Energy Limited, HDB Manufacturers & Distributors, Medical X-Ray Institute Limited, Sunshine Dialysis Centre Limited, Clubhouse Brewery, Adtelligent Limited and BookFusion Limited.

Speaking at the grant-signing ceremony at the DBJ’s Oxford Road location on Wednesday (September 25), the entity’s Managing Director (Acting), David Wan, explained that the Government and the IDB signed a US$25-million loan agreement in 2021 to build out a robust and sustained entrepreneurial system.

The IDB also negotiated and secured a non-reimbursable grant of US$8.2 million from the European Union (EU) to accompany this US$25-million loan, Mr. Wan informed.

Technical Coordinator of BIGEE, Lu’Shana Cheddesingh, noted that since its inception, the DBJ-BIGEE Innovation Grant Fund has supported 30 medium-sized firms to the tune of $400 million.

“In cohort one, we started with three, and they all did well with $14 million. We moved on to cohort two with eight projects. In cohort three, we did 11 projects and today we have another eight projects,” Ms. Cheddesingh noted.

She praised the diversity and innovation demonstrated by this year’s cohort of grant companies.

“You all bring something unique to the table, reflecting climate resilience, gender inclusiveness and, most importantly, strategic innovation. This variety truly exemplifies the forward-thinking spirit that Jamaica needs to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape,” Ms. Cheddesingh said.

Underscoring the importance of innovation in driving economic growth and competitiveness, Chief of Operations at IDB, Lorenzo Escondeur, noted that “innovation is about creating jobs, improving the standard of living and ensuring that Jamaica remains competitive on the global stage”.

“Through innovation, we will increase productivity, reduce dependency on imported technologies and create homegrown solutions to our most critical challenge,” he added.

CEO of Adtelligent, Craig Powe, who is a two-time beneficiary of grant support from the DBJ, highlighted the transformative impact of the assistance on his business.

“Six years ago, I was part of one of the first IDB IGNITE (Innovation Grant from New Ideas to Entrepreneurship) programmes and I got a grant of $4 million. At that time, my revenue was $20 million and now I’m doing $90 million. Eighty per cent of people at Adtelligent earn over US$1,000 a month now. Before, the average monthly salary was $80,000,” shared Mr. Powe.

He expressed gratitude for the initial $4 million he received from DBJ.

“That grant allowed me to take off the capital expense of those equipment and gave me some breathing room, so for $20 million, I’m definitely going to change the game,” he said.

BIGEE aims to promote innovation and productivity among established micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with high growth potential, to promote sustainable and disruptive growth in scalable startups, and to create sustainable pipeline of high-growth startups and a strong supporting ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

GoodHeart| Students’ creativity shines at Reggae Sumfest’s Upcycling Art Competition

Treya Picking — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:39:34 +0000

Since 2019, Reggae Sumfest has focused on climate-change and sustainability. This year, it launched the Jamaica Green Scholars Upcycling Art Competition with H&L Agro, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, and Esirom, following a beach cleanup to raise sustainability awareness among youths.

In its inaugural year, schools in western Jamaica were invited to create products from waste materials. The top four schools—Barrack’s Road Primary, Flanker’s Primary, St James Preparatory, and Heinz Simonitsch School—showcased their creations at the Esirom’s sustainability corner at Reggae Sumfest’s Family Fun Day. Visitors voted for their favourite project, and a panel from H&L Agro, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Esirom, and Reggae Sumfest judged the designs based on provided criteria.

The entries included a chandelier that converts into two bedside lamps (St James Preparatory); a chair and lamp (Barrack’s Road Primary); a lamp, dress, mat, and hassock (Flanker’s Primary); and an irrigation system (Heinz Simonitsch School), all made from plastic bottles, cups, and other waste materials.

Khalia Hall, Esirom’s sustainability manager, emphasised the importance of creating durable and impactful products.

“There were a lot of categories including creativity and longevity, which was a big one for us judges because we didn’t want the students to just make something and throw it away after. We wanted it to be long-lasting. There was also a category of environmental impact and the use of various materials,” she said.

Heinz Simonitsch School won first place with their irrigation system. Barrack’s Road Primary took second with a chair made from Chubby bottles. Flanker’s Primary, with a dress and hassock, secured third. St James Preparatory’s chandelier earned fourth place.

Aron Gallimore, a student at Heinz Simonitsch, expressed excitement over their win, noting that sustainability is a key goal on their school’s vision board.

“This was our first time competing and we really tried to do our best. The irrigation system is a huge part of what we want to do, the foundation basically, and a precursor to the hydroponics system that we’re going to be creating at the school in September,” he said. “Our motto at the school is ‘changing average into amazing’, and we have students every day just stepping up and raising the bar.”

Barrack’s Road Primary focused on durability with their runner-up project. “We used Chubby bottles and binding wires to hold them together. When we were thinking about this project and sustainability, we thought whatever we created should be durable and protect the environment,” said Carlene Lumley, a teacher at the school.

The winning school received a personalized DIY green garden kit. All four schools also received prizes from KFC, Urban Development Corporation, Sunshine Snacks, Hospiten, Grace, and Pepsi.

Leeann Dunkley, Reggae Sumfest’s sustainability coordinator, praised the creativity and commitment of the participating schools, noting that the competition is a testament to the importance of engaging our youths in sustainability efforts.

Reggae Sumfest’s annual beach cleanup collects over 2,500 pounds of waste

Treya Picking — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:16:20 +0000

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Demonstrating remarkable community spirit and environmental dedication, Reggae Sumfest’s annual beach cleanup on June 15th resulted in the removal of over 2,500 pounds of waste from Catherine Hall and Fisherman’s beaches in Montego Bay, St James.

Now in its fourth staging, this coastal cleanup has become a vital component of the festival’s lead-up activities. Various stakeholders and sponsors joined forces to support Sumfest organisers in their unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.

The cleanup effort successfully collected 1,475 pounds of plastic and over 1,100 pounds of other waste, including tyres, old clothes, and furniture, from both the beach line and the ocean beds.

Leeann Dunkley, coordinator of sustainability at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, is ecstatic the cleanup was able to be executed in the magnitude that it was as it highlights the crucial need for environmental efforts. She emphasised the importance of expanding their efforts, noting that adding another beach to this year’s cleanup highlights the team’s dedication to growth.

“Each year, our beach cleanup initiative grows in scope and impact, reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability and community involvement. Seeing the collective effort and the tangible difference we make is incredibly rewarding. This year’s addition of another beach to our cleanup efforts shows our dedication to continuous growth and our unwavering resolve to protect Jamaica’s beautiful coastline and our environment. Together, we’re making a significant impact and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship,” Dunkley stated.

Marcus Richards, managing director of the Hardware and Lumber Group (H&L), expressed pride in the project’s achievements over the years.

Marcus Richards, managing director of the Hardware and Lumber Group (H&L) with his team during Saturday’s beach cleanup excercise. (Photo: Contributed)

“This is a top-quality, feel-good event. The number of volunteers has grown significantly, and so has the amount of garbage collected. Joe (Bogdanovich) and the team should be exceptionally proud of what they’ve started and built,” he said.

Richards also highlighted the project’s status as a highly anticipated community event and praised its community-centred approach.

“So many people look forward to this clean-up each year as one of the official community kick-off events. One of the things that I take my hat off to Joe and the team for is that Sumfest is really a community-centred activity. Everything they do ploughs back into the community,” Richards added.

He further revealed plans to extend sustainability efforts to schools to create green spaces and support the development of young Jamaicans. “When it comes to corporate social responsibility, we focus on education, health care, and the environment. It’s important to engage youngsters early, and this year’s cleanup saw a great turnout of children.”

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Dwight Crawford, commended the Sumfest organisers, underscoring the importance of educating future generations on environmental stewardship. “As the councillor for the area, this project is very dear to me. The support and growth over the years have been tremendous, and it’s heartening to see the community come together for such a vital cause,” he said.

Kimesha Campbell-Douglas, marketing officer at Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ), praised the initiative’s impact. She noted the significant amount of plastic waste collected and emphasised the importance of public awareness in changing behaviours.

“Today, we collected 1,475 pounds of plastics alone. The impact of this project is far-reaching, and we are seeing positive changes in recycling behaviours. The numbers truly motivate us at RPJ to help in any way we can to get people to understand what this is actually doing to our environment,” she said.

Alex Morrissey, Director at Esirom, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Reggae Sumfest on their sustainability mission. “Reggae Sumfest is deeply committed to sustainability, and that’s reflected in their efforts beyond the music festival. Today, we pulled fabric, strollers, and even a table from the ocean bed—items that should never be in our waters. It’s heartbreaking, but it motivates us to continue our work,” he said.

Morrissey, who received a special honour during the event, appreciated the recognition but emphasised that their efforts are driven by a desire to inspire others.

“We don’t do it for the recognition; we do it because it’s needed. We hope to inspire other businesses and Jamaicans to make an impact. You don’t need to be a multi-million-dollar company to make a difference,” he concluded.

This year’s cleanup was supported by sponsors and partners including Chesters Chicken, Sunshine Snacks, Wisynco, UDC, Magnum, Pepsi, Zoetry, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Hardware and Lumber, Esirom, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gentle Care Ambulance Service, Grand Palladium, HEART Trust, Hospiten, Jill Stewart Montego Bay City Run, Project Star, Touchstone Ticketing, VIP Attractions, Maggi, Tortuga and Wisynco.

Salada Foods cultivates literacy through garden learning

Treya Picking — Thu, 16 May 2024 05:34:23 +0000

Utilising the natural environment as a catalyst for learning, Salada Foods adopted a novel approach to literacy education by integrating garden activities into its activities for Read Across Jamaica Day on Tuesday, May 7.

The company, which is home of the renowned Jamaica Mountain Peak brand of coffees and teas, orchestrated an immersive literacy event at Jebb Memorial Basic School engaging children in three-dimensional learning.

Highlighting the untapped potential of outdoor spaces as educational resources, Tamii Brown, General Manager at Salada Foods said, “It offers endless opportunities for learning and exploration; as quickly as the students stepped out of the classrooms and into the schoolyard, we recognised how it ignited their curiosity and stimulated their imaginations.”

The activities kickstarted with Nadine Francis, quality assurance manager at Salada Foods, leading a captivating reading session with approximately 35 students between the ages of two and six, centred around a book of the Ready Steady Readers series titled, The Little Red Hen and the Wheat.

Following the story, Francis and the Salada Foods team facilitated a discussion with the little readers about their lessons learnt to encourage critical thinking.

In a momentous collaboration, Salada Foods and the ESIROM Foundation gifted Jebb Memorial Basic School with a raised garden plot, sparking excitement among the students and teachers alike. The hands-on learning opportunity is not only aimed at fostering literacy skills, said Brown, “but is meant to cultivate a deeper understanding of their natural environment. It was truly a pleasure for our team to watch all the little ones participate, and partake in the reading and gardening activities alongside our sustainability partners at ESIROM.”

“With the sun’s rise tomorrow, we hope to see a renewed passion for growth among the children at Jebb. Today, we’ve witnessed the joy students experience from reading about living things, to every stage of gardening – from preparing the plot, to planting and even nurturing the seedlings. We want the raised garden plot to enrich their curriculum,” Brown added.

Prior to the visit, the children were provided with fudge sticks to craft labels for a diverse array of plants including herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, fruit trees and sunflowers. Some of these plants were placed into the planter as part of the activities.

According to Leonie Salmon Wong-Sue, Principal at the basic school, the addition of the garden will serve as a valuable resource for integrating literacy and even mathematics into experiential learning whilst meeting the learning and development requirement.

Wong Sue remarked, “Read Across Jamaica Day already provides a unique opportunity for our children to engage with books beyond the classroom curriculum, and today was certainly extra special with the playground and garden serving as a living classroom. Literacy should begin at home, from the moment a child can speak so by the time they transition into the school environment, they are ready for bigger activities but it isn’t always the case. These events always make that transition fun for all of us. We welcome the garden because it complements our curriculum for our four-year-olds who are learning about plants and farms.”

“We would love to be able to take the children outside to learn every day or at least twice for the week, but our school is in a noisy area. Nonetheless, it was a good learning experience and exposure for the children. In my role as principal, I have embraced Jebb Memorial as a historical institution, and I believe that when conceptualisers leave a legacy, it is our responsibility to nourish and build upon it. That’s what Salada Foods can expect our teachers and students to do with the garden,” added Wong-Sue, reflecting on her tenure as principal since 2014.

With approximately 48 students at Jebb Memorial Basic School, the garden initiative holds promise for transforming the way literacy is taught by the teaching body and experienced by the students. By harnessing the power of the outdoors, Salada Foods aims to cultivate a literate, environmentally-conscious generation. In addition to the reading and gardening activities, Salada Foods extended a sincere gesture of appreciation by presenting gifts to the devoted teachers and staff at the institution in anticipation of Teacher’s Day

ESIROM, Seprod partner to promote upcycling via edutainment game

Treya Picking — Tue, 07 May 2024 14:43:31 +0000

According to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Jamaica produces an average of 8,657 tonnes of solid waste daily.

The Alex Morrissey-led ESIROM Foundation decided to act by collaborating with Seprod to promote upcycling.

Through this partnership, the charitable environmental advocacy arm of the digital marketing agency is set to introduce an exciting new initiative to promote recycling and sustainability in efforts to alleviate much of the waste on the island.

Another feature of the partnership is both entities harness the power of innovation to address environmental concerns while engaging and educating children in a fun and interactive manner.

The key ingredient to this initiative is the creation of an edutainment game crafted from repurposed tetra packs – the containers for drinks by Seprod’s renowned brands, such as Eve’s Almond Milk, Serge Island Dairy, and Monster Milk – and recycled wood.

ESIROM Foundation Sustainability Manager Khalia Hall

Under the leadership of Khalia Hall, sustainability manager at ESIROM Foundation, the team innovated a new twist on the classic Tic Tac Toe game.

This unique version involves throwing ping pong balls into strategically placed holes on a wooden frame. The objective remains the same as the traditional Tic Tac Toe: achieve three balls in a row to win.

This game will provide users with a hands-on opportunity to play with recycled materials while they learn about the importance of recycling and environmental support.

The Tic Tac Toe-inspired ‘board game’ by the ESIROM Foundation team. (Photos: Contributed)According to Eve Brand Manager Daynah Parchment, the collaboration highlights Seprod’s commitment to supporting upcycling efforts in the country.

Stating that ‘…[they] are passionate about contributing to sustainable initiatives and want to do more’.

‘Partnering with ESIROM to create this innovative edutainment game aligns perfectly with our mission to impact the environment positively.’

ESIROM Foundation’s Sustainability Manager Khalia Hall, detailed the game’s educational aspect, stating that the ‘goal is to educate consumers on the importance of upcycling in a fun and engaging way.’

‘By creating this game, we aim to instill a sense of environmental responsibility and inspire future generations to take action.’

After creating the game, Seprod plans to donate it to the Edward Seaga Primary (formerly Denham Town Primary), with the hopes that this will encourage children to learn about recycling, more in a creative fun way.

The collaboration between ESIROM and Seprod is a combined commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. By leveraging creativity and cooperation, they pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

Reggae Sumfest’s Climate Change Initiative Garners Silver ADDY Award

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 22:08:45 +0000

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The issue of climate change has always been close to the heart of Downsound Entertainment’s Chief Executive Officer Josef Bogdanovich, producers of Reggae Sumfest.

The latter was the reason why, in 2019, he and the Reggae Sumfest team embarked on a mission to bring about positive change through their sustainability initiative.

Declaring the annual festival as one that is ‘going green’, the team has consistently engaged in a number of activities- including an annual beach cleanup in Montego Bay, St James – which has yielded impressive results since its inception. Still, the Sumfest team said they were not expecting to win any awards for a project they deemed necessary. So, when it was announced that they would receive this year’s Silver award from The American Advertising Awards (ADDY Award), the team acknowledged that the accolade was the “icing on the cake.”

In addressing the award, Bogdanovich emphasised that it serves not only as recognition of their efforts but also as a reminder of the profound impact individuals can have on preserving life.

“This is another small step to uplift one’s consciousness beyond oneself. The fact that this effort was recognised demonstrates that we as individuals can make a difference in the preservation of life,” he stated.

Speaking on the societal impact of the campaign, Bogdanovich remarked: “This project is a first step to elevating oneself into paying more attention to the climate and our effect upon it. When one becomes more responsible as a person and as an individual, who knows how far one can grow as an individual, as a family, as a community and as a nation.”

He added; “There is a certain feeling that is enjoyed by the collective that we are doing something together that is worthwhile, and it’s especially good when you are among fellow workers and associates.”

Expressing her surprise at the award win, Karla Jankee, Head of Marketing at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, emphasised that, much like Bogdanovich, she sees the award as a testament to the team’s unwavering dedication and consistent efforts since 2019.

“This came as quite a surprise. I wasn’t even aware that our partners at Esirom had nominated us. We’ve been pouring our hearts into our sustainability campaign since 2019 because addressing climate change is a top priority for us at Reggae Sumfest,” she explained. “This year, we were very deliberate about how we wanted to present our initiatives, so we entrusted Esirom with crafting the social media campaign, and they exceeded our expectations. We’re incredibly proud of their work and ours, especially considering it was all organic. This campaign was one of the few where we didn’t allocate any funds for advertising, and that’s what makes this award even more meaningful.”

Alex Morrissey, Director at Esirom, expressed his delight in collaborating with Reggae Sumfest. He emphasised that the victory was the result of a collective team effort, and he couldn’t be prouder of the achievement.

“We were thrilled to partner with Reggae Sumfest, the Caribbean’s largest reggae festival attracting over 20,000 patrons annually, to execute our sustainability campaigns. Their dedication to environmental responsibility and massive reach perfectly aligned with Esirom Foundation’s values. Having collaborated with them on previous sustainability initiatives, we were confident that this partnership would amplify our message and create a significant impact,” Morrissey stated.

He added: “This ADDY Award feels different. Sure, we’ve been fortunate enough to win awards before, but this one, for a campaign that trumpets sustainability in Jamaica… it hits home. You see, Jamaica, like many places, grapples with basic environmental practices. Winning for a campaign tackling that head-on? It’s an incredible validation of our mission, a fuel to our passion. It’s not just about the trophy, it’s about the message reaching those who need it most. This award is a powerful push to keep fighting, keep amplifying, and hopefully, inspire other events to follow suit. Because let’s be honest, a cleaner, greener Jamaica, a more sustainable Caribbean—that’s an award worth winning every single day.”

With a highly successful 2023 campaign under their belt, the Reggae Sumfest team, gearing up to host another edition of the event this summer, has already initiated plans for the 2024 campaign.

According to Leeann Dunkley, Coordinator of Sustainability at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, in addition to the annual beach cleanup, we are looking to expand the initiative city-wide.

“We envision hosting a ‘sustainability clean-up day’ that extends beyond Catherine Hall Beach to various areas of Montego Bay, including the hotel strips,” she elaborated. “We aim to engage our hotel partners, who are enthusiastic about joining us to amplify our impact. Expansion has always been part of our vision for this project, as Joe mentioned; it holds great significance for us. Making a difference is our shared goal.”

Dunkley also disclosed that, alongside expanding the city-wide cleanup effort this year, Reggae Sumfest aims to engage children in an educational capacity. She stressed that addressing issues like recycling from the grassroots level could be pivotal for achieving long-term change.

“We aim to visit schools and educate children about the significance of recycling to address certain issues proactively. A significant reason behind the recycling challenges we face stems from insufficient early involvement. We’re determined to shift that paradigm,” she emphasized. “Furthermore, we aspire to assist schools in establishing green spaces in collaboration with our partners at H&L. It’s set to be an enriching educational voyage. Stay tuned for updates on the exciting initiatives we have in store.”

Read More: Jamaica Observer

US Embassy grants J$37m in funding for youth development, human rights, environment

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 22:03:14 +0000

The United States (US) Embassy, Jamaica has issued grants of more than J$37 million to seven local non-governmental organisations, aimed at positively impacting lives and communities.

The grants were issued to support programmes in the areas of youth development, human rights, and environmental protection. The awardees are Children First Agency, Esirom Foundation, KAHLE Journey, The Humpty Dumpty Institute, Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), Jamaicans for Justice, and the UWI Discovery Bay Marine Lab.

US Ambassador N. Nick Perry officially presented the grants to the awardees during a handover ceremony, held at the US Embassy in Kingston.

The ambassador congratulated each of them on their achievements and went further to encourage the representatives to “positively impact the lives of Jamaicans through providing opportunities for growth and transformation”.

Representatives from the respective beneficiaries also used the opportunity to share details on their individual projects and their anticipated outcomes with the ambassador.

Perry was joined by the embassy’s public affairs officer, Mike Lavallee, and other embassy officials, who celebrated with the awardees.

The US Embassy’s Small Grants Program forms part of the US government’s effort to support activities that address the climate crisis, promote youth empowerment, strengthen democracy and human rights, stimulate trade and development, and uphold the rule of law.

Esirom Foundation honoured for excellence in public service advertising

admin — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 18:38:40 +0000

Esirom Foundation Limited is a recipient of the Gold Award for the Kingston Harbour Eco-Restoration Initiative and a Silver award for Reggae Sumfest Sustainability for their exemplary public service work during the 7th Annual American Advertising Federation District 4 Angel Awards ceremony.

Conducted by the American Advertising Federation District 4, the Angel Award Competition honors the very best in public service advertising by honoring campaigns that demonstrate exceptional results and execution.

The foundation received the Gold Award in the organisation/cause campaign category and the Silver Award in the social media category.

Mike Weber, founder and chair of the Angel Awards competition, shared that it is inspiring to see the causes and organisations that are serving communities.

“Creating effective advertising for them is a challenge. Unlike selling a product, the advertising needs to elicit an emotional response. The Angel award recipients this year demonstrate that,” said Weber.

For her part, Stephanie Herndon, governor of AAF District 4, said she was immensely proud to witness the high-quality advertising created for charitable causes across Florida and the Caribbean.

“It is an honour to recognize and celebrate the agencies crafting stellar campaigns that shine a light on these impactful service initiatives. The event always leaves attendees with teary eyes and a full heart,” said Henderson.

The awards represent two missions of the organisation: to utilise industry expertise to address community issues, and to celebrate and honour advertising excellence.

Entrants consisted of a variety of advertising service providers, public service organisations, and special-interest causes and groups located in Florida and the Caribbean.

Read more on OurToday

Esirom Foundation Takes the Lead in Environmental Protection Initiatives

admin — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 12:32:00 +0000

Answering the call for more active participation in the fight against climate change, the Esirom Foundation is making waves in environmental protection, sustainable consumption, and urban planning.

Founded in December 2022, the foundation, which is the charitable arm of Esirom, the marketing house led by Alex Morrissey, has aimed to continue the small-scale environmental outreach that had long been a part of their mandate.

Explaining how the foundation began, Sustainability Manager Khalia Hall told Good Heart, “The director of the company, he is very passionate about all things environment-related, and so was I before I started working at Esirom. We kind of both partnered up on this mission because climate change is a pressing issue. It’s a term we feel flies over people’s heads sometimes because it’s nothing new. You hear about it in the news, it sounds so dire but you wake up the next morning and, from the looks of it, and from your day-to-day life, it seems as if things aren’t changing. It’s a bias we have as humans that, if something isn’t eminent, in terms of causing danger to us, we don’t act. Earth is our one home and, without it, nothing else really matters. And Jamaica, as a small island developing state or a Caribbean island, we are going to be one of the first countries to feel climate effects.”

Though crowned Miss Jamaica World 2021, Hall has always been passionate about protecting our global home.

“Before Miss Jamaica, I had a plant-based food business and the motivation behind that was climate change. So I changed my diet and felt this urge to come back to Jamaica and influence the way Jamaicans eat because animal agriculture is a huge contributor to carbon emissions.”

She continued, “I was already passionate about that. So this came from a simple endorsement video and it transformed into what is now the Esirom Foundation.”

Now, with Morrissey at the helm, alongside Hall, the sustainability coordinator, Samantha Channer, and their volunteers in Rockfort, St Andrew, led by Densek Edwards, affectionately known as Trevor, the foundation is actively implementing multiple projects to both protect and rebuild our largest shared habitat.

Drawing inspiration from the creative marketing arm of the parent company, the Esirom team is equally enthusiastic about extending its outreach through online channels.

“We always try to capture something, Hall explained. “The reason we push content so much is really for education purposes. So it’s a really important pillar in our work. We have three main areas, environmental protection, sustainable consumption and urban planning, but, at the core of them all is public awareness and education. It’s intertwined into everything because, if people don’t know, how will they change? If people don’t know about possibilities, you know, how can they come up with new ideas and be inspired?”

She continued, “Our mission statement, I would say, is addressing environmental issues comprehensively to ensure that we create solution-driven impact while generating opportunities around sustainable development in Jamaica. All in all, we are addressing a global problem but we’re taking local action because Jamaica is our home.”

With less than a year under their belt, she mentions that, next year, they will not only persist in their palliative work such as beach clean-ups and wellness initiatives, but will also delve deeper into urban planning and sustainable consumption. Initiatives like their ‘Bring Yuh Owna Tings’ campaign, the ‘Grow Your Own Food’ campaign, and a composting project will be focal points of their efforts.

“Generally, not speaking on projects next year, we plan on having more direct impact on people and working directly with people. We’ve been working a lot behind the scenes and, even with our clean-ups, it’s our very small team but we want to include the public in our projects as well as interact directly with Jamaicans to make our impact felt stronger,” she said.

Read More: Jamaica Gleaner

By: shanel.lemmie@gleanerjm.com

Esirom Foundation and NSWMA Join Forces for International Coastal Cleanup Day Initiatives

admin — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:21:55 +0000

National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Executive Director, Audley Gordon (left), assists environmentalist and fisherman, Densel Edwards, to remove debris which accumulated along a section of the east Kingston coastline, on Saturday (September 16). The exercise formed part of activities for International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is observed annually on the third Saturday in September. Looking on is Kimone Evans of the Esirom Foundation which partnered with the NSWMA to undertake the cleanup.

Read more on JIS News