NHT launches model home competition as Social Development activities step up across the island

The NHT invites children ages 8-12 to create models of the homes as the NHT’s Social Development activities intensify through the Best Schemes Competition and the KSA/PSA Sports Day at Cooreville Gardens.

The Model Home Design Competition

In keeping with the NHT’s 35th anniversary agenda to have dialogue with the public on housing matters,  the NHT invites children ages 8-12 and their parents to create models of the homes that they would like to own. This is their opportunity to be creative and to use materials available to them while working within a practical budget.

Prizes include one national prize of $35,000 and three county prizes of $10,000 each. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 31, 20111 by 4.00 P.M. Entries may be submitted to any NHT office. See the guidelines along with the entry form for more details by visiting  the NHT’s at: http://www.nht.gov.jm/model-home

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Best Scheme Competition

Another opportunity to showcase what residents of NHT communities have been doing to improve their quality of life comes through the NHT’s Best Scheme Competition for 2010- 2011. Judging is now taking place across the island. This is in keeping with the NHT’s efforts to encourage civic pride by rewarding communities that use their initiative to implement projects that improve the cultural, health, environmental; and educational aspects of community life.

NHT Scheme entrants are vying for prizes at the Parish, Regional and National levels of the competition. Winners and their runners- up stand to win just under $3m in prize monies which will be shared at the regional and national levels.

Region 1 which has 24 NHT schemes consists of the parishes of Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth (4) and Manchester.

Region 2 which comprises Clarendon and the wider St. Catherine has 38 NHT Schemes in total. Region 3 covers Kingston & St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland with 41 schemes in total.

Region 4 covers Portmore in St. Catherine, and St. Ann with 33 schemes in all. Islandwide, the competition has 331 eligible competitors.

NHT’s Social Development Manager, Wendy-Jo Williams, explained that the competition which was first introduced in 1993, has allowed residents to significantly improve their quality of life in the areas of culture, health, environment and education. She said that the residents have beautified their communities by maintaining their physical spaces, engaging in active community groups and practicing a high rate of mortgage repayments.

Ms Williams added: “The overall aim of the Best Schemes Competition is to motivate communities to use their initiative and creativity towards achieving their development goals.”

The last Best Scheme Competition was won by the Longville Park Housing Scheme in Clarendon, which emerged the winner after competing among a field of 70 NHT communities during a yearlong and intense contest. The winning scheme won a cash prize of $1M for its efforts.

For more about this and other activities by the NHT’s Social Development Department visit our website at:   Best Schemes Competition and Regional Judging Calendar

Another activity being organized by the NHT’s Social Development Unit is the “KSA/PSA Community Sports Day 2011 – Peace Through Play” to take place July 30, 2011. This is the KSA/PSA’s inaugural sports competition and will take place at the Cooreville Gardens field Community Centre beginning at 10 a.m.

The purpose of the event is to foster close relationships amongst the communities including NHT schemes.

CALL CENTRE NOW OFFERING LIVE HELP VIA THE NHT WEBSITE

The NHT now offers a Live Help Support system which takes the format of a web chat with its team of Customer Care agents. Live support can be accessed via the NHT corporate website during office opening hours by users locally as well as those overseas.

For more information about this and other NHT activities and programmes, visit our website at www.nht.gov.jm

Email this to a friend | Print this Page | Join the discussion about this article