In this past 6 months, resident papa of m.a.m.a. earth, Eugene Cooke, has had the pleasure of working with One Love Learning Foundation in Jamaica. Their mission is loving and empowering children by providing them with the tools to satisfy their basic needs while facilitating communication with other children around the world to eliminate cultural barriers and fear.
Founded by Brenda Isaac, the One Love Learning Foundation (OLLF) seeks to assist children throughout the world by providing them with tools to assist them with the basic needs. Currently OLLF is implementing programs with a trinity of schools in the United States, Jamaica, and South Africa. Their current programs include: Nutritional Programs/Organic Gardens; Healthcare Services; Internet-based Learning & Cultural Exchanges; and Teacher Exchanges. Eugene is assisting with their Organic Gardens. Their current trinity of schools include the Dobbs Elementary School in Atlanta, GA; the Anchovy School in Montego Bay, Jamaica; and the Cavalleria Primary School in Cape Town, South Africa. They also provide a wide range of assistance to the children at Montego Bay’s Garland House Orphanage.
In the beautiful month of March 2012, Eugene was invited for his second visit to Highland House in Jamaica. Read more about Eugene’s experience:
“It was a pleasure to be included in the company of seven amazing women as we gathered for a week of strategic planning for the foundation. My role was to offer insight for further developing the agricultural center for educating youth about healthy food and local food production. I was also lucky enough to spend time on the three acre farm with Mark, the primary farmer on the property, once again.
During my 5 days with this developing advisory board, we did research and reviewed OLLF’s successful program in South Africa. This data was helpful as we began to frame how to develop the mission of Soil, Soul and Society in Jamaica and the US. We made contact with a representatibve from Jamaican Organic Agriculture Movement (JOAM) and were given a tour of local growing sites and schools. In my time on the farm with Mark, we shared seeds, mulched planting beds and discussed the installation of new beehives for the farm.
I’m so excited to be contributing to One Love Learning Foundation’s continuing service work connecting children to the land and each other through education, music and web technology. Brenda’s vision of unity consciousness is sincere and timely. It is an honor to be included in such circles. As I sat there, meeting with professional women who have made serious contributions to society, feeling how amazing it was that I had been invited because I simply followed the instructions I was given by my grandparents to ‘Grow Where You Are.’”
Learn more about One Love Learning Foundation>>
Learn more about Eugene’s “Grow Where You Are” workshops for kids and adults>>
Leave a Reply