Reading Literacy Classes
Ongoing literacy classes are provided to community members. In the near future we hope to provide computerized literacy classes as students progress.
Computer Lab
We now have a ten station computer lab that is used for community computer classes. In the future we plan to provide secretarial/administrative services to the community as support to new or existing businesses.
Art Workshops
In conjunction with our Treasure Hunt Craft Shop we have conducted several series of art workshops for members of the community who want to make items to be sold in the shop or just want to learn more about arts and crafts. These workshops have been highly successful. Check out our Crafts page to see many of these items highlighted and on sale in the Treasure Hunt Craft Shop.
Yard Sale
During the year we collect donations of clothing, shoes, houseware items, etc. and periodically hold yard sales. This has become a very popular event with more and more persons showing up to support us. This is one of our largest money generating events.
Summer Camp
A youth arts camp full of learning and camaraderie, directed by TBWG members and aided by volunteer guest artists is held every summer. Activities include arts and crafts, dancing, singing and drama. Approximately 20 - 30 students attend this wonderful summer camp each year!
Walk-a-thon
This event is held once a year. People show up early on a Sunday morning and walk 5 miles. All proceeds are donated to a different charity each year (e.g. Jamaica HIV/Aids Society, Treasure Beach Ambulance Fund, Summer Camp, etc.)
Bingo Nights
This is an annual fund raiser enjoyed by the entire community, with great prizes and fun had by all attending.
Beach Clean-up
We participate in helping coordinate at least one annual community wide clean up of our beautiful beaches.
Children’s Christmas Party
For 8 years TBWG has helped host our favorite event, the Children’s Christmas Party. It is held each year on Christmas Eve, along with the assistance and sponsorship of private donors and local businesses we host approximately 175 children from the Treasure Beach community. Each child is given a small gift, games are played, faces are painted, refreshments are served, and loads of fun is had by all.
For the last two years TBWG has extended our reach outside of our community and helped host a Christmas Party for Our Lady Of Hope Children's Home in Manchester. With great help and sponsorship from Janet and Erik MacPeek and friends we’ve hosted a Christmas Eve Party including pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken (a great treat for the children) and gifts for the children at Our Lady of Hope (set up as a link to the Our Lady of Hope website http://oloh-jamaica.org/)
Christmas Gift Baskets to the Elderly and Shut-ins
During the year we accept donations for the gift baskets that we distribute to our elderly and shut-in community members on Christmas Eve, along with Christmas caroling, and lots of hugs. The last few years to the delight of the recipients our Treasure Girls Group has accompanied us in this distribution which has added a great amount of energy to the singing of songs and hugs!
Best Community – Treasure Beach
The TBWG combines efforts annually with BREDS and The Greater Treasure Beach Citizens Alert Benevolent Society (GTBCABS) in entering the Best Community Contest run by The Social Development Commission of Jamaica. So far each year we’ve entered we’ve won for Best Community within the parish of St. Elizabeth. A significant cash prize is awarded to the winners and is used for further community development including beautification projects, ambulance sponsorship, road improvements, etc.
Other Events and Important Projects
The Treasure Beach Women’s Group is active throughout the year hosting many events and working on several projects. We’ve also held talent shows, fashion shows, and a variety of other events over the years to help support our group. Our ideas for the future are to create a business incubator, theatre group, more income producing projects, further literacy initiatives and personal development workshops. We are in the process of expanding our facility, and hope to raise funds to support a much needed Projects Coordinator. We continue to support members of the community with individual medical or special needs. At our meetings we hold talks and workshops on a range of issues and themes to empower, unite and inform our members and community. Visitors to Treasure Beach are encouraged to participate in any and all events.
Funding for this website was provided by the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP), a joint initiative of the Government of Jamaica and the European Union and by The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), in conjunction with World Bank and Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI). Views expressed in this product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the PSDP, JSIF, World Bank or REDI. |