08-08-2017, 09:05 AM
Westenders, I LOVE the food voucher program in your country, especially the fact that social workers are on hand where the meals are given to offer additional support for these folks. We have a terrible homeless problem in San Francisco and I'd love to see something like that in place...truthfully I've been begged on more on the streets in San Francisco than I have ever been in Negril. Difference of course being children doing the begging - 100% of the beggars in San Francisco are adults.
Like Jamaicajeannie said, I have read a lot of reviews, stories, trip reports that have been about or included One Love Bus experiences. The recent stories have all included this "Shanty Town" experience and most of those were not comfortable with this stop. As far as how local charities operate and where the money goes, I'm more familiar with that in knowing several Rotary members since the Negril chapter started up, I have volunteered for them and have donated to them. I also know some of the programs Rockhouse Foundation does and have met their Executive Director. This is how I know that these organizations do work that reaches out to ALL neighborhoods in the Negril area. It is possible that Lenbert might be hearing form the more "opportunistic" folks in that part of the Divers Village (aka, "Shanty Town") have told him these service have not been made available to them because to receive these services one has to want to go to school, get a good meal, learn to read etc. It takes some action on the the person's part. Its a lot easier to just get cash in hand or expensive gifts directly from tourists who's heart strings are pulled, mostly by the children.
The bottom line in any situation like this and attempting to correct it is education, and we know that is sorely lacking in Jamaica. It is at the root of the problems we are having here in the US. So, if a tourist came to me and asked what they could do to help, my first suggestion would be to spend a little time at the school working with the kids.
Like Jamaicajeannie said, I have read a lot of reviews, stories, trip reports that have been about or included One Love Bus experiences. The recent stories have all included this "Shanty Town" experience and most of those were not comfortable with this stop. As far as how local charities operate and where the money goes, I'm more familiar with that in knowing several Rotary members since the Negril chapter started up, I have volunteered for them and have donated to them. I also know some of the programs Rockhouse Foundation does and have met their Executive Director. This is how I know that these organizations do work that reaches out to ALL neighborhoods in the Negril area. It is possible that Lenbert might be hearing form the more "opportunistic" folks in that part of the Divers Village (aka, "Shanty Town") have told him these service have not been made available to them because to receive these services one has to want to go to school, get a good meal, learn to read etc. It takes some action on the the person's part. Its a lot easier to just get cash in hand or expensive gifts directly from tourists who's heart strings are pulled, mostly by the children.
The bottom line in any situation like this and attempting to correct it is education, and we know that is sorely lacking in Jamaica. It is at the root of the problems we are having here in the US. So, if a tourist came to me and asked what they could do to help, my first suggestion would be to spend a little time at the school working with the kids.