The JOOI of Coastal Clean up 2012

Here we share the Junior Octagon Optimist International (JOOI) Caribbean District's effort at Fort Clarence Beach in Hellshire, St Catherine as part of the International Coastal Clean-up Day 2012. Our young people sure know how to give 100% and then some... This is an edited report.

International Coastal Clean-up Day 2012 Report

Upon entering the Fort Clarence Beach in St. Catherine, one could see the pieces of garbage lying around waiting to be disposed of properly. With volunteers trickling in and the spirit of optimism kicking in, work started just after 10am.
Approximately 55 volunteers from the Octagon Clubs of WolInternational Coastal Clean-up Day 2012mer’s Boys School, Wolmer’s Girls School, Jamaica College, Kingston College, and Convent of Mercy (Alpha) Academy, Calabar High, Meadowbrook High and Immaculate Conception High schools joined their efforts in cleaning up the Fort Clarence Beach. Two main groups were formed; Team Ackee for the left side of the beach and Team Saltfish for the right. The groups were named after the national dish of Jamaica; Ackee and Salt fish. These groups were further broken down into three ‘crews’; Plastic, Glass and Paper. There was much appreciated assistance from two members of the beach staff.

The highlight of the cleanup exercise had to be the unusual items found. Fan blades, cooking oil containers and household cleaning agents topped the list! By 1:00pm, we had cleaned the majority of the beach. The groups got rave reviews from tourists, business owners on the beach, visitors and workers. One personnel stated that we ‘went where others wouldn't go’.
The day was an absolute success thanks to the efforts of the JOOI community and supportive parents, club members, JOOI Caribbean District executives, as well as the staff at the Fort Clarence Beach. JOOI District Chairperson Lisa-Gaye Anderson had this to say: The turnout was encouraging and confirms that you [volunteers] are truly dedicated to the JOOI movement and what it stands for.  As a group we cannot do it all alone, but with our 'little bit', we can feel a sense of fulfillment knowing that, as young persons, we played our part in helping to create a cleaner environment.
Beaming with optimism that the coastal crisis will be someday no more, everybody felt proud and invigorated by cleaning up man-made debris as this was their way in contributing to enhancing the welfare of the whole human race.

- Javanni Waugh (Fortis Octagon Club of Kingston College)