Missionaries Of The Poor Building Holy Innocents Home For Mothers And Babies

"The home will be called Holy Innocents and is expected to house approximately 200 mothers and their babies."

Involves support, shelter, crisis centre and prayer. 

Quotes From Jamaica Observer: Helping Poor Women Gets Priority With Catholic Brothers

AMCHAM To Honour Business And Civic Leaders Who Give Back

"Awards will be presented at Tuesday’s black-tie dinner in three categories — Corporate Social Responsibility; Civic Leadership; and Arts & Culture which, in its broadest sense, includes the promotion of “Brand Jamaica” in spheres such as manufactured products, promotions and the visual, literary, and performing arts by individuals, non-profit organisations and companies."

"Ten companies are vying for the AMCHAM Award of Excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility. They are Barita Investments Limited, Capital & Credit Merchant Bank, Carreras Limited, Digicel Foundation, FirstCaribbean International Bank, GraceKennedy Remittance Services Limited, Jamalco, National Commercial Bank, the RJR Group, and the Scotiabank Group."

"Eight individuals and five companies are up for the AMCHAM Award of Excellence for Civic Leadership. Vying for top place in the individual category are: Kevin Wallen, Debra Chen, Ferris Ziadie, Zebo Vassell, Dorrell Rowena McKennis, Grace McLean, Patricia Quarrie and Linnette Vassell."

"In the organisations category are Food For the Poor, Sandals Foundation, the Rural Family Support Organisation, the Spanish Jamaica Foundation and the United Way of Jamaica."

"In the Arts & Culture category, there are six finalists: Calabash International Literary Festival, Frame by Frame Productions Limited, Mervin Henry AKA Button Man the Great, National Dance Theatre Company, Tivoli Dance Troupe and Wolmer’s Dance Troupe."

Quotes From Jamaica Observer:  AMCHAM To Honour Business, Civic Leaders Tuesday

JET Brings Out Jamaicans And Corporate Jamaica For Beach Clean Up

""There are close to 1,500 [people] coming from all over: schools who come in their own buses; people who just show up (on) the two shuttle buses from two points in Kingston; lots of corporate teams; and people who have just driven up by themselves," said Diana McCaulay, chief executive officer for the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), which co-ordinated the clean-up. "I am really happy, and I hope people are taking a moment to look around and realise that we have such a wonderful asset right on the doorsteps of our city, that it is special, that it is beautiful, and that it deserves to be protected.""
Quote From Jamaica Observer:  J'cans Clean Coastal Areas

Best Care Special School For Physically And Mentally Challenged Children

"The Best Care Special School, which caters to physically and mentally challenged children between six and 18 years of age, is still registering students for the current school term."

"Located at 11 Trevennion Road, in Kingston, the school is operated by the Best Care Foundation (formerly Best Care Lodge), and is home to children with special needs."

"The mandate of the teachers is to enhance the students' learning experience by captivating and stimulating their minds through the use of technology and other means and promoting self-expression, self-help skills, independent living skills and physical activities."

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner: Best Care Special School Still Registering

Mona Lions Host Mini-Health Fair

See Jamaica Observer: Mona Lions Mini Health Fair

Rex Nettleford Foundation Launched

"The foundation will support scholars and programmes that promote the strengthening of West Indian society in the areas of social and cultural development through research, community service and intellectual excellence, hallmarks of the man they called Rex."

"The foundation will also seek to produce young leaders who will grasp the importance of public service based on integrity, who have a desire to protect the weak, and who will use their energies and talents for the betterment of humankind."

Quotes from Jamaica Observer: This One's For You, Rex

Tivoli Youngsters Giving Free GSAT And CSEC Classes To Students

Tiffany Biggs, resident of Tivoli Gardens, "came up with the idea to start after-school classes in her community, with the aim of giving young people there, the same helping hand she received this year."

"She joined forces with two other young Tivoli residents, Kordell Clarke, 19, and Zebulun Williams, 20, to set up the after-school classes which will be free of charge and be focused on helping students studying for GSAT and CSEC exams. Williams, Clarke and Biggs will conduct the classes and they expect to have about 30 students when classes start this week"

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner:  Paying It Forward - Tivoli Youngster Gets A Helping Hand, Passes It On To Others

Manifesto Jamaica Driving Change Through The Arts

""Manifesto Jamaica is all about education, exposure and empowering the youth and letting them know that art is an option. Instead of having countless youth turning to crime they know that they have other options. They can be a good dancer and singer and make money from their craft." - Director and founding member of Manifesto Jamaica, Kareece Lawrence"

The non-profit of 17 members uses "advocacy, festivals and workshops to achieve their goals".  A number of been events have been held and more are planned.


Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner: Empowerment - The Manifesto Goal 

Breds Treasure Beach Sports Park Completes Phase One

"The term BREDS is short for 'brethren', a familiar way of hailing a person from the local fishing community. BREDS is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 to promote education, sports, cultural heritage and emergency health care in Treasure Beach.  The organisation is administered by volunteers and funded annually through individual donations and the proceeds of special projects."

 "Phase One is the construction of a building that houses changing rooms, a storeroom, caretaker's room, bathrooms and a sewage-treatment system. It has wheelchair access and cost $3 million to build."

"In Phase Two, fencing of the property, a cricket pitch, a children's play area and drilling a well for water supply will be completed."

"In Phase Three, the basketball, netball and tennis courts will all be constructed as well as ropes course for leadership programmes. In the final phase, a multi-purpose community centre will be built."

"Chairman of Breds, Jason Henzell, said plans were well advanced for the facility to be utilised as a sports tourism centre, which would make it the first of its kind in Jamaica. The total complex is estimated to cost J$120 million."

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner: Breds Sports Park: A Treasure On The South Coast

Rotary Club Of Kingston And JSIF To Help Alpha Boys School

"The project, which is scheduled to begin early next month, will involve the rehabilitation of several buildings, construction of new bathroom facilities, extensive roof repairs to the building housing the dining and music room, as well as painting to dorms and a classroom block."

"It also includes reconditioning of the football field, resurfacing and equipping of the basketball court, as well as upgrading musical equipment used by the famous Alpha Boys' School Band."

Alpha Boys' School has "produced exemplary musicians, notably the late Don Drummond, Tommy McCook and Winston 'Yellowman' Foster, among others, has also turned out a number of outstanding Jamaicans working in several vocational industries such as woodwork and printing."

"Approximately 125 boys aged six to 18 years old are currently enrolled at Alpha Boys' School."

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner: Help For Alpha

Rotarians And Rotaractors Host Wellness Tour For Students Of CMI

"Students at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) along with residents of the community of Port Royal, received medical attention during a week-long Wellness Tour held on the campus of the CMI last week"

"The CMI family and residents received general health check-ups, diabetes screening, hypertension checks as well as optical screening. Some participants also received free medication"

"The Wellness Tour is an annual project of the Shipping Association of Jamaica

(SAJ), in partnership with the Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains (RCLP), and is in its fifth year. SAJ and RCLP joined with two new Rotary partners for the project - the Rotaract Club of Liguanea Plains and the Rotary Club of Kingston East and Port Royal."

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner: SAJ And Rotary Bring Wellness To Port Royal

Palmyra Foundation Provides Thousands Of Books To Thousands Of Students

..."some 7000 books to more than 2000 students.  The project, an outreach by the Palmyra Foundation, is valued at J$5.1 million."

...."the children each received their own bookbag with a pack of crayons, a pencil, a 300-page BrainQuest workbook and an average of three scholastic reading books valued at US$30 per pack.  "The BrainQuest workbook, single-handedly, will give every child the opportunity to learn their letters and numbers," said Palmyra Foundation's spokesman, Ragni Trotta."

Quotes From Jamaica Gleaner:  Palmyra Foundation Distributes Books To Kids

Alumni Associations Praised By Ambassador Marks For Their Contributions to Education

"Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, says: "The constant donations of millions of dollars from alumni associations to various Jamaican institutions have not gone unnoticed by the Government and, in particular, the Ministry of Education. As a result, many schools have better amenities and hundreds of students have received financial assistance that has helped to further their education." She noted the vital role played by alumni organisations in the advancement of education in Jamaica, through the contribution of millions of dollars to improve school plants and fund scholarships"

Quote From Jamaica Gleaner: Holmwood Alumni Association Gives Back

Sandals Foundation Working With Beeston Spring Community Development CommitteeTo Help Over 3000 Persons In More Than 20 Projects

"The philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts, the Sandals Foundation, was launched in 2009 to harness the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts brand and tackle a wide range of issues affecting the Caribbean and which sit under three broad areas of interest: Education, Environment and Community."

"According to the foundation, over 600 management personnel from Flight Centre Canada will undertake a wide range of community projects which will positively impact the lives of over 3000 persons living in and around the community."

"Working in conjunction with numerous members of the Beeston Spring Community Development Committee, the Sandals Foundation and Flight Centre teams have created over 20 individual projects."

Among the many areas listed for assistance in the article are the Beeston Spring Basic School, Salem Primary and Junior High, Robins River Basic School, farming, sewing room/community centre, football pitch and herbal spa.

Quote From Jamaica Observer:  Massive Make-Over For Beeston Spring

US$26M Pledged By The Global Fund To Fight Against HIV/AIDS In Jamaica

"....US$26 million from the fund to assist the fight against HIV/AIDS for the next three years"

Quote from Jamaica Observer:  Global Fund Pledges US$26M to Jamaica's HIV/AIDS Fight

Nature Preservation Foundation To Benefit From Initiative For Hope Zoo

"[Michelle] Jackson, proprietor of Boy O Boy children's boutique on Merrick Avenue in Kingston, ...has initiated a not-for-profit drive — Hope-for-Hope — with the intention of offering long-term assistance to the Hope Zoo."

"...the proceeds of [sales of specially designed clothing items]...will go to the Nature Preservation Foundation (NPF), operators of Hope Gardens."

""They have given us their blessings," said Jackson, whose Hope-for-Hope programme is administered by a committee of like-minded professionals."

"However, the Hope-for-Hope programme has a greater mandate than providing funding. According to Jackson, it will also facilitate the procurement, importation and care of animals for the zoo."

"The intention of the programme, Jackson told Observer reporters and editors, is to facilitate the services of veterinarians and other services to provide sustainable support for the zoo." 

Quotes from Jamaica Observer: Kingston Businesswoman Offers Hope for Zoo

NGOs CBOs Help The Ministry of National Security With Community Activities For The Citizen Security And Justice Programme (CJSP)

"The [Citizen Security and Justice Programme] CSJP, a programme of the Ministry of National Security, is in its second phase of funding from the Inter-American Development Bank, which will run until December 2013. Its main objectives are to prevent and reduce crime and violence, and to strengthen crime management capabilities through community action, and institutional strengthening at the ministry level."

"Currently it operates in 28 inner-city communities, or volatile and vulnerable communities in the Kingston Metropolitan Area, as well as in St James and Westmoreland."

[Simeon Robinson, programme manager at the CSJP] "expressed his appreciation to the various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have been assisting the programme in carrying out its mandate. Some of these NGOs include Rise Life Management, Kingston Restoration Company, and Youth Opportunities Unlimited."

""We do work with a large cadre of volunteers in each of these communities. I don't think we could afford to hire the number of persons who we rely on to assist us on the ground. We have, for instance, some community-based organisations through which we work and these persons are essentially volunteers and they have supported the programme in very significant ways," Robinson said."

""Without them, we would have to expand the staffing arrangement significantly and I don't think the programme can afford to do that. Because of these volunteers, we are able to deploy our resources in a strategic way within each community. When I refer to community-based organisations, a number of them organise themselves into Benevolent Societies. In other words, they are legal structures and among the membership of the benevolent societies are several community-based organisations like police youth clubs, among other interests," he added."

 

Quotes from Jamaica Observer: CJSP Hiring Residents To Strengthen It's Activities