For fourteen years Marc Rollins of Rose Hall Developments and a team of like hearted friends have hosted the children of the SOS Children’s Village for a football camp which not only seeks to provide football skills training for the children but also character building activities and overall good sportsmanship development. August 1-6, 2016 the Rose Hall Football Camp brought together 90 campers and 20 coaches at the Half Moon Football Field for another great event described by Marc Rollins as “one of the most meaningful charitable events for Rose Hall, my family, and indeed myself.” This camp is undeniably the highlight of the summer for the children who are treated to a week of great football, fun activities, some snazzy sports gear and an exciting beach party picnic at the end.
The Rose Hall Football Camp has evolved into a full time teaching school under the direction of Aaron Lawrence, former Reggae Boyz goal keeper and current coach for the Real Madrid School of Social Integration. The coaching team also features an impressive line-up of the island’s best coaches – Under 15 Reggae Boyz coaches, Fabian Davis, himself the former Reggae Boyz mid-fielder and defender, and his assistant coach, Gregory Stewart; Linval Wilson , former Reggae Boyz Captain and Assistant Coach of the Humble Lion Football Club; Granville ‘Papa’ Clarke who serves as Grange Hill’s Coach. The team is completed by the dedicated group of Roster Were, Fabienne Davis, Ally Weaver, Natasha Groves, Jaheim Clarke and Mikey Marietta who return to volunteer at the camp each year.
The camp is proudly served each year by former SOS Villagers Andrew ‘Stringbean’ Johnson and Hoween Griffiths, both employees of Rose Hall Developments, as well as Chni Golding now a Registered Nurse works with Hospiten Montego Bay.
At Friday’s Awards Ceremony the young campers were recognized for their great work over the week. The Honourable Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett in his address to the children highlighted the value of the camp as being so much more than the promotion of physical athleticism but an experience which “provides exposure, brings young people together, builds relationships and fosters healthy competition.” He further stated that with events like this, “Everyone is a winner!”
The Weaver Family, in honour of founding supporter Gene Weaver, presented the Gene Weaver Award to Johnathan Golding for being, “the camper who exhibits discipline, passion, enthusiasm and politeness throughout the camp.” Golding thanked the organizers, the coaching staff and the Weaver Family for the honour and cited that it was a great motivation for him to continue to work hard.
Rollins family matriarch Michelle Rollins commented on the awesome support from the community for this event each year, “The success of this event is a real testimony to corporate Montego Bay working together to develop the children of Jamaica. We could never do this without the help of our friends from CPJ, Hospiten, Iberostar, Hilton Hotel, Half Moon Hotel, Jamaica Tours Ltd, Megamart, Scotchies, Island Grill, Pure National Ice and the committed and hardworking staff of Rose Hall Developments Limited.”
The Honourable Senator Noel Sloley, commended the Rollins family for the vision and hard work that goes into this event year after year. He praised 50 Years of unwavering service to the children of Jamaica and commented that, “The Camp presents those who are not born with equal prospects with the life transforming opportunity to change the course of their life forever!”
Minister Edmund Bartlett in greeting SOS Village success story and Bartlett Scholarship Awardee, Chni Golding, commended her on her achievements and announced that he would be offering another scholarship this year for another outstanding SOS Villager.
The definite highlight of the day was the presentation by Michael Rollins, President of Rollins Jamaica Ltd, to SOS Children’s Village’s National Finance Advisor, Ray Gregory of US$10,000 on behalf of the One Love Music Festival. The One Love Music Festival is an annual event organized by Rose Hall Developments Limited in partnership with Tuff Gong Music to support charities of both organizations.
