|
Michael
Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance
and special EFJ Award
 |
 |
|
Innovative
transportation on worksite of the Jeffrey Town Farmers’ Association, 2006 winners of the Michael Manley Award for
Community Self-Reliance |
|
The Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance, presented
annually to a community group that has demonstrated exemplary
achievement in improving the wellbeing of its members and the wider
community, is the flagship project of the Michael Manley Foundation
and a reflection of one of the more abiding retentions from the
Michael Manley years.
The late former Prime Minister’s commitment to the ideals of
self-reliance and community cooperation was reflected in a range of
policies during his administration and in his practical, personal
example of working voluntarily on various community development
projects, especially on Labour Day.
Self-reliance is a fundamental aspect of Manley’s political
philosophy. In his first book, The Politics of Change, he wrote:
“Self-reliance implies the ability on the part of the people of a
country to make common efforts towards the general development and
welfare of the group.”
Asserting that “it is vital for political leadership to ‘back its
jacket’ and get in among the people at the roughest working levels
from time to time,” Mr Manley set the example by pushing
wheelbarrows and wielding pickaxes and shovels as he joined
communities in cooperative self-reliance projects on workdays all
over Jamaica.
Against this background, the Michael Manley Foundation created the
Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance as its first
project, inaugurating it in 2000, one year after the Foundation’s
incorporation.
Fittingly, on Emancipation Day – August 1 – each year, Kingston’s
Little Theatre is decked out in appropriate style for the Awards
presentation that includes a keynote address by a Guest Speaker,
entertainment by performing artistes and an informative lobby
display.
In the presence of members of the Manley family, executives of the
Foundation, Parliamentarians, diplomatic and consular
representatives, donors, participants in community self-reliance
projects, and a wide range of interested individuals from the
general public, the winners of the Award are presented with a
beautiful bronze resin trophy sculpted by the renowned Kay Sullivan
and a cash prize of $200,000.
Next»
|
