One Love, One Future: Let's Unite For Jamaica!

One Love, One Future: Empower Our Youth, Honour Our Elders, and Uplift Rastafari And Maroons!

Greetings,

My name is Marcia Cunningham, affectionately known as Sister Marcia to most people, and I am the Founder of Black Mama Earth Ltd and Rastafari Maroon JA Ltd.

Year 2

On Monday another crate will be going to Jamaica!

I am proud to be African by way of Jamaican roots, and I lived in Montego Bay, Jamaica for over 19 years. I am currently based in London, England, and I have worked at Centric Organisation for over 1 year. and now with Sedulous CIC. still trying to support grassroots initiatives across Jamaica.

Over 3 years ago, I founded Black Mama Earth Ltd, a Social Enterprise in London, to facilitate projects that benefit our youth, our elders, and our underprivileged family of African and African-Caribbean descent, especially our Rastafari and the Maroon Community based in the UK and Jamaica. We actively work in schools, community and rehabilitation centres, hospitals, and prisons offering palliative care.

On my recent trip to Jamaica in May 2024, I visited primary schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS) & Elders Home, Chance Rehabilitation Center & Day Care Facility, the Maroons in the St James area and various farming communities, to whom I pledged ongoing assistance and support, following the relationship I have been building and nurturing for over a year.

It is for this reason that I have stepped up my plans of action, and I am asking you to please lend your support. I urgently need your help to provide relief now as well as to be a crucial part of the long-term rebuilding and growth effort.

Over 40 boxes, 5 suitcases, 5 large plastic containers, 9 extra large bags, and 1 barrel will be going to the wharf in the crate Monday 30th June 2025to be shipped to Jamaica.

I am raising £22,300 and 100% of the funds raised are supporting the following:

• Lyssons Primary School & Pear Tree River Primary School in St. Thomas with The Growing Minds Initiative - empowering 75 children with special educational needs and disabilities through gardening, growing their own produce to be self-sufficient and reliant, and school/educational supplies.

• Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) - supporting rural women and farmers with the equipment and knowledge to be self-reliant, and successfully set up, run and scale their agricultural and fishery businesses.

• St Ann Farmers - empowering our Rastafari farmers with the equipment and protective gear to be self-reliant, and successfully set up, run and scale their agricultural and fishery businesses.

• Melbourne Avenue Youth Club in Montego Bay - supporting young men who are farmers with the equipment to continue to feed the local community.

• The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (RCGBS) & Elders Home - established in Norwood, St James, it is the home of the survivors of the terrible events of ‘Bad Friday’ in 1963 in Coral Gardens, Montego Bay, in which scores of Rastafarians throughout Jamaica were detained, killed and many tortured by the police and military forces following a riot in the community.

• Chance Rehabilitation Center in Unity Hall, Montego Bay - supporting those with special educational needs in the Daycare Facilities as well as those on their journey overcoming drug and alcohol addiction.

• Maroons in Accompong Town /Tangle River/Flagstaff and German Town- offering tangible support to the Maroons, who have proudly maintained their independence from the British.

• The Clean Beaches Initiative & Mayor Richard Vernon of Montego Bay "Step UP Initiative" - waste management programmes to educate children at schools and the masses about proper and effective waste management practices, including recycling.

The £22,300 funds raised will be allocated as follows:

• £1,000 is needed to cover the cost of the current crate being shipped - this is urgently needed by Monday, 30th June 2025

• £5,800 is needed to cover the cost of purchasing and transporting to Lyssons Primary School & Pear Tree River Primary School supplies, including books, uniforms, geometry sets & calculators, seeds and equipment for school gardening and growing food, stationery, and new iPads with covers and charging accessories.

• £4,100 is needed for RADA to cover the cost, of transporting and installation of the irrigation system to assist the female farmers.

• £3,000 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting a fridge/freezer and cooker to provide better meals, clothing, laundry facilities, and heavy-duty incontinence pads to those who attend the Chance Rehabilitation Center & Day Care Facility.

• £2,000 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting the 2 Heavy duty Rotavators to the Rasta Bredrens St. Ann Farmers and the Farmers of the Melbourne Avenue Youth Club.

• £1700 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting clothing, toiletries, and food items to Maroons in Accompong Town /Tangle River/Flagstaff and German Town.

• £700 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting clothing, toiletries, heavy duty incontinence, and food items to the The Rastafari Coral Gardens Elders Home.

• £630 is needed to cover the cost of spray painting, adding the logo, and transporting the 18 barrels, where 8 schools and Sunset Beach in Montego Bay will each receive 2 barrels each for the waste management initiatives in partnership with the Mayor's "Step UP Initiative" and the "Clean Beaches Initiative".

• £520 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting clothing and additional farming equipment to the Rasta Bredrens St. Ann Farmers and the Farmers of the Melbourne Avenue Youth Club.

• £350 is needed to cover the cost of buying and transporting clothing, dominoes packs, and gift bags and gift items for tournament winners for the Black Fathers' Solidarity Group operating nationwide.

• £1500 Tax Clearance – an estimation

• £1000 – Logistics getting donations moved from one area to another.

Every donation, whether it's £5, £10, £20, £50 or more, makes a significant difference and has a positive impact.

The more of us who share this campaign with our friends, family, and social networks and actively support it, the better chance we have of reaching and even exceeding our financial goal, and therefore realising our mission.

We will keep you updated with regular updates regarding the progress made, so you can see and know firsthand how your support is actually benefiting the Community.

We are deeply grateful for your love and support; on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Jamaica and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. It is our collective kindness and generosity that can turn the tide.

Remember, "One Love, One Future: Empower Our Youth, Honour Our Elders, and Uplift Rastafari!"

Sister Marcia x

UK Social Enterprise Name: Black Mama Earth Ltd

UK Social Enterprise Reg. Number: 13388142

JA: Rastafari Maroon JA Ltd