Kane Proctor
Michael's speech made me realize that even in the toughest times you need to look forward because if you work hard enough you can get anywhere in life. The experience has showed me that if I put in the time and effort into something I want to achieve I can achieve it.
Omario Gordon, Student, Mount Waddy Primary School, Friendship, JamaicaThe Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation to me means that I should be Mighty In Character. It encourages me to be strong in everything I do. It helps me to be confident in myself and in everything I do. It helps me to believe in myself and to do my school work. It also helps me to achieve my goals and set them the right way. It also encourages me to build my faith, joy and peace.
Sustenance Farming
As a child Michael Folkes worked on his grandfather's farm. Melbourne Folkes used the produce to feed his extended family and sold surplus to the local college.
As farming is clearly important in Friendship, and in remembrance of his grandfather, Michael wishes to continue and develop this tradition with the Foundation's Sustenance Farming Initiative.
Involving local people and students this initiative will be a community-wide project initially providing produce to local colleges, hotels and restaurants in Phase One. With the Foundation's support it is intended that with greater scale, equipment and organization the Farming Initiative will extend to international exports.
The proceeds from this program will fund the Foundation's educational and humanitarian long-term efforts, thereby creating self-sustainability instead of relying solely on financial donations.