Our Story
The Saying Goes: “If you can transform Trench Town you can transform Jamaica”
My name is Peter Kiernan and I have been asked by local community representatives to help them to create a business plan that will support the regeneration of the Trench Town district of Kingston, Jamaica. I am willing to work in voluntary capacity to facilitate the creation of an Urban Regeneration model, based on economic alternatives, which will in the future help to transform the lives of people living in ghetto communities worldwide.
I am looking for fuelling to pay for a trip to Jamaica in April or May of this year, for 2 to 3 weeks, when I will meet with representatives of various local groups and carry out a holistic survey to create an inventory of all the local resources. I am mainly concerned with identifying areas that can be used by the community to grow food. I also want to use my accumulated expertise and networks to make links with the relevant Government Agencies and departments at the University of the West Indies to access the knowledge, skills and resources that will help this project to succeed.
The Impact
Your generosity will make an incredible impact in the lives of the people living in Trench Town. The area has high unemployment, poor living and sanitary conditions and a history of violent crime similar to other notorious parts of the capital. Trench Town has been a no-go area for several decades and but because of recent changes in political/criminal relationships the opportunity for the local community to consider a brighter future has arrived.
The main outcome of the campaign will be to provide a framework for local community tourism, linked with the development of green projects that will help to attract tourists to the area. This grassroots initiative will provide the Trench Town community with commodities to sell and food for their own cooking pots. One of the difficulties encountered with urban regeneration programmes is involving the local community in the process and encouraging them to take ownership of the project. This project is being driven by the will of proactive community leaders who live in the neighbourhood.
While I am in Jamaica I will help the local community to create a Trench Town Tourist Guide and I will contribute to production of a book of photographs that will feature the inspirational Trench Town Street Murals that adorn the walls of the community. Examples of these murals can be seen on my website. At the end of my visit I will write a report, documenting what has been achieved and identifying the next steps that need to be taken to advance the project.
This is the first step in our journey and I anticipate that I will be initiating another IndieGoGo funding campaign when I return from this trip. I will record video clips of my activities during the visit and put them on my website to support my next mission to Trench Town.
What We Need & What You Get
I am looking for $2,500 to pay for a flight to Jamaica, accommodation and living expenses for between two and three weeks in Downtown Kingston. The flight and travel insurance will cost up to $1,000 and I hope to stay in a low budget backpacker hostel for $140 per week. I will also need around $200 per week for living expenses and local travel, and some extra money for contingencies. As you know, a small percentage of the total collected will be taken by IndieGoGo, etc. and the cost of some of the perks has to be included also.
Those of you who already know me will be familiar with my passion for plants and creating useful gardens. Any surplus money that you generous folks give to the campaign will be invested in tools, seeds, plants and other equipment that will be used to grow food in Trench Town. If I do not achieve my financial goal and have not received enough funding for this trip, I will give all the money that has been collected to the Rose Town Benevolent Society in Kingston, who I know will spend it wisely and transparently on local community projects.
I hope the perks we are offering, on the right, are attractive rewards for your generosity!
Other Ways You Can Help
You can help us by spreading the word! Please share this campaign with anyone you think would be interested in helping. Share on Facebook or Twitter or email to friends and family. And if you happen to be travelling to Jamaica when I am there, contact me and we can meet in the hallowed ground of Trench Town, where I can show you the ‘Government Yard’, the ‘Concrete Jungle’ and other locations made famous in the song of the legendary Bob Marley.
Please read My Profile for some more information and details about this campaign. We are grateful for any comments, suggestions or advice that will help us to achieve our vision.
If you have any questions about Transform Trench Town project please email Peter Kiernan at trenchtown@tastejamaica.co.uk or Rory King at krory98@yahoo.com
