The Jamaican RASTAFARIAN Development Community ( J R D C )

Simply means working in unison, to bring about much needed development in the community here in Shashemene, the surrounding environments and working together to achieve the salutory good for humanity.

The JRDC has brought together the different entities into one common bond, namely:- NYAHBINGHI, BOBOSHANTI, THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. THE ETHIOPIAN WORLD FEDERATION INC.& ALL RASTAFARIANS OF INDEPENDENT VIEWPOINTS

It was registered and certified on December 10th 2001 by the appropriate branch of Government " The Ministry of Justice" as a local non-govermental - non profit making entity with a stated objective of implementing a 5 year integrated programme which will transcend all areas of Education, Health, Agriculture, Housing ( construction ), Sports and Culture.

The 1st phase of the programme which will focus on Education entails the construction of a Recreation-Vocational Skill Training Centre which will offer the less fortunate youngsters, those who have failed their school-leaving examination and those who have no access to formal education.

Courses to include:- Information Technology ( I T ), Woodwork, Plumbing, Sewing & Handicrafts, Metalwork and Pottery. Each area of endeavor will be implemented on a phase by phase basis,one leading to the next as each phase develops

This is a unique and golden opportunity for the international fraternity of Rastafarians to deliver the goods to create a resounding impact and to unleash a reservoir of talent in the direction of Ethiopia's development and Africa as a whole bringing about a tangible manifestation on the ground which our people have been anticipating for a long time.

This comes at an opportune time when the Centre piece of policies articulated by the governments of the African continents are focusing on sustainable development coupled with poverty reduction. This appeal is to all and sundry, The International Fraternity of RASTAFARIAN, People of the Black Diaspora, Philanthropists and all lovers and well wishers of the African cause to seize and maximize the utilization of this opportunity opposed to squandering and allow to go abegging this noble undertaking of truth which is to support and assist the less fortunate of the Human Race. This is an ideal opportunity to revivify the spirit of repatriation, fulfilling the words of Marcus Garvey and accomplishing the concept of His Imperial Majesty Haille Selassie I

Project Title:- Shashemene Community Educational Skill Training & Recreation Centre.

Project Initiator:- The Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community/Executive Committee/Shashemene.

INTRODUCTION

ETHIOPIA with a population of 61 million people has the awesome task of raising the standard of living of her people to a level that meets the needs of a rapidly growing population in a modern world. One of the primary tasks is to raise the comparatively low level of socioeconomic development, and level of social services under the pressure of an annual population growth rate of 6.4% ( see official growth rate census of 1995 ) the task of development has been made even more difficult by a history of successive local and international conflicts and natural disasters. Rural urban migration has put more pressure on the underdeveloped resources of the country.

The population of Shashemene, which is targeted by this project, has a male population of Male 48.8%, Female 51.2%

the JRDC seeks to pursue the legitimate aspiration and rights of its community to self-determination, self-sufficiency and economic development.

The project will be conducted at the available site of The Shashemene Community Education & Training centre in collaboration with partner and supportive agencies. The resource requires 25 acres of land for the project which includes:- A building to deploy the activities, machinery, tools, raw materials, soccer fields, horticulture and agricultural lands, trainers / instructors, curriculum development and transportation. Implementation will undergo the following process.

In order to represent the interest of the Community of the Ethiopian Authorities the JRDC was inaugurated on 15th December 1992 with a democratically elected representative. This has since evolved into a benefited nonprofit community organization registered with the Federal Democratic Republic Government of Ethiopia as the Jamaican Rastafarian Development ( JRDC ) with non governmental organization ( NGO ) status. They have proposed, with the assistance of their overseas partners to assist in the development of the infrastructure of the community and to participate in the development of the native population of the region as a whole.

The JRDC seeks to pursue the legitimate aspiration and rights of its community to self-determination, self-sufficiency and economic development.

The need for this center can hardly be overstated. With a population of over 50,000 ( of which 55% are under the age of 15 ) and a community of a few hundred settlers of which 65% are under 20 years of age, ( all youths born in Ethiopia ) and being in a rural region there is a seriously inadequate supply of educational, recreational and medical facilities available.

The JRDC aims to promote a project for the building and operating of a community center which will function as an educational, skill training and recreation center for the community and surrounding areas.

At all levels of the students education there will be scope for future expansion