Sandals - 'Champion for the Environment'

These students from the Churchill Primary School have the full attention of world 100m record holder Asafa Powell (third right) and Rachel McLarty, director of corporate communications, Sandals and Beaches Resorts. The occasion was the launch of a joint sponsorship initiative to revive the faltering Jamaica Environment Trust's School's Environment Programme at Beaches Negril Resort and Spa.

Sandals & Beaches Resorts launched a new sponsorship deal on Friday, February 9, which will help youngsters in Jamaica learn more about the environment.

Tagged the 'Champions for the Environment', the initiative was officially launched at the Beaches Negril Resort and endorsed by world 100m record holder, Asafa Powell, who happily signed autographs and took photos with his adoring young fans.

Private sector organisations, WATA, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Bashco and National Commercial Bank, joined Sandals & Beaches Resorts to pledge approximately J$10 million over the next four to five years to the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), money that will be used to revive JET's islandwide Schools Environment Programme (SEP).

Sesame workshop, partners of Beaches Resorts, also contributed to the initiative, with environmental 'ambassador' Grover making the presentation.

Launched in 1997, SEP is an environmental education programme with four elements - garbage management; greening of school grounds; environment club and environmental research.

in need of additional funding

In explaining their role in this initiative, director of finance and planning at Sandals Resorts, Patrick Lynch, said, "Sometime last year, I became aware that the JET Schools Environment Programme was in need of additional funding to continue its already scaled down effort or face being discontinued throughout the island. I was able to pull together a group of private sector companies, who along with Sandals, are committed to providing sponsorship for this great project."

Students from participating SEP schools in the parish of Westmoreland, including Church Hill Primary, Sandy Bay Prep & Junior School, Negril All-Age and the Upper Rock Spring All-Age School, also attended with Negril All-Age offering a well-executed skit regarding sustainable tourism.