Culture Corner

 

Do you know how some Jamaican Rastafarians ended up in Shashemene, Ethiopia, which represents a portion of the 500 acres of private land donated in 1948 by Emperor Haile Selassie to incentivize Jamaicans and other Caribbeans to return to their ancestral homeland in Africa?

Were you aware that a population of displaced Black Indians exists in the United States (e.g. Mid-West)?

Did you know that OID treat the descendants (e.g. Moore Town Maroons) of the only female listed among Jamaican national heroes?

One of the greatest benefits of volunteering with OID is the opportunity for firsthand cultural integration and exploration, and simply having fun. At the end of our workweek, we normally allot time for cultural tours so that volunteers can truly get a sense of the culture, history and heritage of the people we serve; after all, culture affects the administration of healthcare. For example, in Ghana the group visits Cape Coast and the Slave Dungeons as well as other historical landmarks. Even if OID does not schedule a cultural tour, volunteers can plan their own special events corresponding with local happenings such as the Jamaican Jazz Festival, rafting the Rio Grande, Reggae SumFest and other cultural niceties in the location we work.

What’s more is that several of the communities in which we work are historical landmark in their own right, and we imbue in their rich social fabric by the mere fact that we are physically present. Case in point is Moore Town in Portland, Jamaica, the home of the propitious Moore Town Maroons known for their fierce stance against British colonizers in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as, their musical heritage. (OID is a fixture in Moore Town, as we see patients there on an annual basis.) In 2004, Jamaica was among 28 countries honored with a “Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) due to contributions by the Moore Town Maroons.

Regardless if we are working in the Ashanti Kingdom, Ghana, Shashemene, Ethiopia, Portland, Jamaica, Enid, Oklahoma, or some other intriguing place, volunteering will definitely bolster your knowledge of the place, people, history, foods, music and socio-economic climate. Volunteers thoroughly have an enjoyable and memorable experience while serving the needy. Please see below for more information on the people we serve.