Jamaica’s New Horizon expands skills training for slice of US$20 billion bamboo industry
Spanish Town, Jamaica – The New Horizon Christian Outreach Ministry in Jamaica is planning to revolutionise the multi-billion dollar bamboo industry through an entrepreneurship training programme in bamboo utilization, energy & agro-processing.
By expanding its training facility through a partnership with the Digicel Foundation, New Horizon will be designing and manufacturing equipment for the bamboo industry which is currently worth an estimated US$20 billion dollars globally.
“Bamboo is definitely a winner,” said Michael Barnett, Executive Director of New Horizon. “We see the need in the bamboo industry for mechanized equipment. Plus, we’re always trying to differentiate ourselves and look out for the potential opportunities to create social enterprises.”
New Horizon will be designing and manufacturing bamboo splitters, bamboo strippers, a bamboo press to develop bamboo ply board, hydraulic clamps and modified chop saws for use in the industry. This J$5.2 million investment made by the Digicel Foundation will directly impact 500 students and residents of the Wynter’s Pen community in St. Catherine where the facility is located.
“With 1800 hectares of bamboo not being used in Jamaica, the potential is tremendous,” said Barnett. “This is a project that not only will impact this community, but thousands of persons from the bamboo farmers to vendors and producers of the by-products. Digicel Foundation has helped us in a high tech way so that we can help to transform the bamboo sector,” Barnett added.
The programme will also help to change the lives of young persons in the community as additional employment and training opportunities will emerge, enabling them to earn qualifications for the growing local industry and pursue similar opportunities outside of Jamaica.
New Horizon has been an active force for change within its community through the COMET II programme executed in partnership with USAID which offers HEART-certified skills training in welding, electrical installation, literacy and climate change. Level II of the programme, completed in March of 2015, saw 31 males graduating in electrical installation and welding, with 18 females graduating in literacy.
Chairman of the Digicel Foundation, Jean Lowrie-Chin said, ” The New Horizon Christian Ministries, Wynter’s Pen community, USAID and the Digicel Foundation are showing how much is possible when we work together with a common vision for sustainable community development.”
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A number of these students have also benefitted from equipment valued at J$4.5 million previously invested by Digicel Foundation in 2011. Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the COMET II programme and handover for the bamboo project held on March 31 at New Horizon keynote speaker Dr. K’adamawe K’nIfe applauded the training being done for the youth within the community.
“Sometimes the work we do has so much more value than we think. A programme like this has saved the country $50 million because for every $1 spent, at least $10 has been returned on investment,” Dr. K’nIfe said.
According to Mr. Barnett the return on investment is expected to increase through the expansion to bamboo processing and their other social enterprises such as glass processing and nutraceuticals. New Horizon hopes to offer employment to more persons being trained.
