Fusion Caribbean Update March 2009

First of all welcome to the new look Fusion Caribbean Newsletter. This will be coming out once every couple of weeks and will hopefully give you a little snapshot into our work and what is happening. I hope you enjoy reading some of the stories and seeing the photos from this past little while. We want to keep you informed more regularly so are working on keeping these updates shorter and more regular.

Networking

Right now we are working on a research report in Trench Town. We have have done over 140 research surveys over the past couple of months and about 12 interviews with Teachers, Principals, Pastors, Community Leaders and Politicians. So the research is coming along strongly. Another networking opportunity that we are moving forward on is connecting with church leaders about Easter. We are preparing for a major Easter march as well as run some festivals and other celebrations that bring the true meaning of Easter to people’s consciousness.

Youth Work

We have just had the biggest Daytrip ever in Jamaica with 48 people coming along. The theme for the day was ‘Robin Hood’ and everyone had fun time working out the different clues to finding the treasure which was sweeties. A couple of highlights of the day were the shoe relay at the start and capture the flag at the end of the day.

One story that captures the day is:

Zenny (her African name) – originally thought that it was going to be at a different venue but she still came anyway. She loved it so much that she came into the office the Tuesday following the daytrip wanting to know when the next daytrip was. When Kevon told her about Yard Flexx (Talk ‘n’ Tucker type programme where the young people learn about Christianity over a meal together) she was quite interested and has been coming ever since.

Our other youth work has continued to grow and develop with a strong team growing in our schools work programme (preparing to expand to another schools next term), and our Yard Flexx team and participants both growing steadily.

Community Work

Within our volunteer team, we have just had the biggest Nyam Fest ever (Nyam Fest is our once a month Community Dinner that we have with all of our volunteers). There were thirty people there and we had a fun time welcoming back Dave and Liz from their travels as well as welcoming Tim Britten (from Manchester in England) who has joined the team for six months.

We are also preparing for Easter Community Festivals in 3 areas, and an Easter play for the Kids Club which will be a way to keep the contact going with the parents, preparing for our first family Day Trip later in the year.

Training

Some training opportunities that are coming up are a one week Foundations course from April 26th to May 3rd, and the beginning of “Tuesday Training” a one day per week training opportunity for the more immediate team. We continue to train volunteers from local churches for the different programmes as well. Jeremy, who was with us here for two months at the end of last year and is back again for this year graduated his Diploma in Youth and Community work which is very exciting. Also we are praying for support for Kevon to be able to sit an English test to get a visa to go and study in Australia for the last six months of this year. We are also wanting to send Patrick to Edmonton, Canada (and possibly one other worker) in May of this year, to do a Certificate III in Youth and Community Work there.

Admin and resource development

We have finally been granted Charity Status by the Jamaican Tax Office, which means that we are one step closer to being able to get Working Visa Exemptions for Dave and Liz and our other international workers. We are also looking for a cheaper and more suitable office space so prayer for that would be great. We have also started sending out weekly prayer points so if you want to receive them and be in pray fellowship with us then let us know.

Personal

Rubie is from Sydney in Australia and has also joined the team here for three months. Jeremy and Tim are looking for a 2 bedroom place to live for the next 6 months so if you know of anywhere close to where David and Liz live in Swallowfield then let us know.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief catch up on what some of the first few months of this year has looked like and we will update you again in a couple of weeks.

The Fusion Caribbean Team

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

- Mother Teresa

Information and support

If you would like to receive information about how you can support the work of Fusion Caribbean either in prayer, by lending a hand, by telling others about us or financially then please contact us.

Tel: + 1876 296 6801

david.campbell@fusion.org.au

7 Swallowfield Close, Kingston 5, Jamaica, West Indies.