Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
THE VISION of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) is to provide environmental education and to advocate on matters beneficial to the environment.
According to Carlette Falloon, projects director at the non-profit organisation, JET was formed in 1991 by a group of citizens concerned about the state of the Jamaican environment.
Based in St. Andrew, its membership comprises non-profit, non-governmental organisations with projects across the island.
Working to collaborate with other environmental groups, JET is an active member of the National Environmental Societies Trust and the Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network.
One project with which JET is involved the Schools' Environment Programme (SEP) has been established in more than 350 schools according to JET's communications officer, Maureen Milbourn.
She explained that SEP is a hands-on learning programme which runs as a competition.
There are four categories of SEP activities:
Garbage management
Greening of school grounds, which involves the planting of an organic garden or the establishment of a tree nursery
Establishment or strengthening of an Environment Club
Environmental research.
Founded in 1997, SEP effectively complements JET's existing Student Environment Network (SEN). The SEN is a coalition of secondary school students seeking to unite environment clubs, share information and advocate on environmental issues. SEN is also responsible for organising its biannual youth conference.
Currently, JET relies completely on donors, sponsors and members and dedicated volunteers to continue its work.
For more information contact JET: Telephone: 960-3693/9783/9385
or www.jamentrust.org
