Bordered by Maxfield Avenue, Spanish Town Road, First Avenue/Trench Town and Gem Road, Rose Town was a successful working class community until the 1980’s when it was particularly hard hit by the violence, abandonment and disinvestment that plagued Kingston at the time. Many people were forced to leave the community and some migrated from Jamaica. As a result of the political violence in the centr
e of the community, a no-man’s land developed between two rival factions to the north and south. Since the 1990’s the community returned to a level of stability and began to rebuild itself with the establishment of the Rose Town Benevolent Society. This body was instrumental in the development of a community centre, library and sanitation centre. The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community (PFBC), is a UK based charity working around the world on built environment issues. The PFBC believe that the built environment plays a key part in people’s quality of life, and through their projects work to engage, educate and empower community members around the world to ensure they have the skills to transform their environment. Following a visit by the Prince of Wales in 2008 the PFBC began to work with residents of the Rose Town community and other key stakeholders resulting in 2009 with the formation of theRose Town Foundation for the Built Environment (RTFBE) with the following Mission:
To assist in creating opportunities for residents of the Rose Town community to
improve the quality of their lives through active participation in development
programs that enhance their built environment, socio-economic status and
community health. Early support from DFID, USAID, Kuwait Government/The Princes Foundation UK and Digicel Foundation assured the successful implementation of projects including installation of sewer mains, road improvement, training of community members in vocational and technical skills, and Secretarial support for infrastructural and organizational development. The Foundation continues to create opportunities for community development through a series of projects and activities which include participating on relevant committees such as the PIOJhosted Kingston and St. Andrew Inter Agency Network and the Trench Town Community Development Committee. The Foundation has also hosted a series of Open House sessions and facilitated community tours by a range of local and international groups including American Friends of Jamaica, UNDP, UWI, Ministry of Mining and the European Union, which provide opportunities for investment and funding.
