Category: Community Development

Food for the Poor assists inmates to get early release

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More than 300 former inmates were able to spend Christmas at home with their families, thanks to generous donors of the international relief and development organisation Food For The Poor (FFTP).

For 18 years, the charity has secured the release of non-violent offenders in Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Jamaica by paying their accumulated fines at Christmas and at Easter.

Hundreds of the poor, including women, in the Caribbean and Latin America are imprisoned for minor offences because of their inability to pay their court fines, even though the amounts are minimal.

“These prisons can quickly become a black hole of despair, especially for someone locked up with murderers because they do not have the money to pay a fine for a minor offence,” said Robin Mahfood, president/CEO of FFTP.

“Words do not convey the gratitude we have for our loving donors and staff who have not lost faith in a segment of people who are often forgotten or written off as a lost cause,” said Mahfood.

In Jamaica, 21 non-violent prisoners were released from their cells. Four women were freed from the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, four men from Richmond Park, one man from Tamarind Farm, two men from Tower Street, and 10 men from the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.

Among the released is a 63-year-old bus driver who was placed behind bars on December 1 for not wearing the required bus uniform.

He was faced with two options for the offence: pay a fine of $32,000, or spend 60 days in prison. He opted to be jailed because he could not afford the fine.

“I have a daughter attending university, and college expenses are quite costly, but I want to give her a better life. This is why I didn’t have the funds to pay the fine,” he said.

“It has been hard in prison, especially when you think about not having the freedom you are used to. Being on lockdown is not easy.”

When the man found out that FFTP had paid his outstanding fine for his early release, he said, “I feel good! I didn’t have it to pay, and to know that people who don’t know me would just do this for me, it makes me feel really good inside.”

Immediately upon release from the different prisons, the former inmates were each greeted by FFTP staff who provided them with food, supplies and offered words of encouragement.

http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20161228/food-poor-assists-inmates-get-early-release

Digicel Foundation Appoints New CEO

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The Digicel Foundation has appointed Dane Richardson as its new chief executive officer, following the recent resignation of Samantha Chantrelle.

Richardson is now responsible for taking the organisation to the next level and building on the solid momentum achieved under the leadership of Chantrelle who resigned from the position late last year.

Oversight and management of a US$3+ million annual budget ­– focused on education through improvement in literacy and (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM; the development of the special needs sector; and community development/social entrepreneurship.

Richardson joined the foundation as programme manager for education in 2013 and was later promoted to head of programmes. Richardson assumes the new role from his position as director of operations.

Over the years, he has developed a reputation for strong people, project and resource management. With more than 10 years of experience in the social development sector in Jamaica, Richardson has served the public and private sectors in addition to civil society.

The 33-year-old has contributed significantly to the growth of Digicel Foundation, leading the implementation of a three-year strategic plan.

“The foundation has given me a tremendous platform to challenge myself in ways I never did before. Stepping up to the helm is both an honour and a charge,” Richardson stated in a release from the organisation. “The needs in Jamaica are great and varied. What is clear is that all my efforts must remain focused on how to better serve those who are most in need.”

Richardson started his career at Digicel in 2001 but spent much of his time in managerial roles in secondary and tertiary level education, before joining Jamaica AIDS Support for Life as its programme development and grants manager. The Wolmer’s Boys’ graduate is described by his peers as a dynamic and innovative team leader who has consistently displayed honourable work ethic.

“This is an exciting time for the foundation as Dane charts a road map for expanding our reach to touch more lives. I know that he will be a strong leader, with the passion to guide our foundation towards achieving more for our communities,” expressed Jean Lowrie-Chin, chairperson of the Digicel Foundation.

Last year, the Digicel Foundation invested more than $3 billion in communities islandwide, impacting over 580,000 Jamaicans since inception.

In the release, the Board acknowledged the “outstanding contributions” of previous CEOs Major General Robert Neish and Samantha Chantrelle.

Chantrelle was CEO of the foundation since November 2011, having previously worked as a project manager for the NCB Foundation. She holds an MSc in the Sociology of Develpment from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and a BA in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley in the United States.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Digicel-Foundation-appoints-new-CEO_85486

Dane Richardson Takes Reins At Digicel Foundation

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Leadership is an innate quality entrenched in the DNA of 33-year-old Dane Richardson, who officially took the reins as chief executive officer at Digicel Foundation on New Year’s Day.

Digicel Foundation is a non-profit organisation that distributes and utilises funds on a charitable basis for the sole purpose of building communities and community spirit in Jamaica.

Richardson will be tasked with advancing the goodwill organisation by adding to the legacy achieved by his predecessor, Samantha Chantrelle.

The Wolmerian joined the foundation in 2013 as programme manager for education and quickly climbed through the ranks to be promoted to head of programmes in 2015, and, subsequently, director of operations in 2016.

Before joining the foundation, he was programme development manager and grants manager at the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, one of the largest health care agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing the socioeconomic challenges facing, and advocating for, Jamaicans living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, STIs, and intimate-partner violence.

In speaking with The Gleaner about his ascension to the helm of the foundation, Richardson said: “Happy would be an understatement. Deeply ecstatic better sums it up.”

He added: “Receiving such an opportunity to lead an organisation has been a lifelong aspiration. Having witnessed and learnt from many outstanding development specialists, I have always wanted a chance to make my own mark contributing to positive changes in my home country.”

Richardson’s appointment comes on the heels of the foundation being awarded the Non-profit Organisation of the Year by the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS).

Richardson contributed greatly to said recognition through procedural improve-ments and efficiencies, improved cost effectiveness, as well as increased scope in programme design and reach; his most noteworthy achievement being his leadership of the implementation of the foundation’s largest project with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) valued at J$600 million, which contributed to the achievement of the Ministry of Education’s goal of 85 per cent literacy in 2015 at the primary level.

SUITABLE PERSON

Krystal Tomlinson, public relations and engagement manager at Digicel Foundation, expressed that upon hearing the news from outgoing CEO Chantrelle, she wept joyfully.

“He’s the most suitable and deserving person. Dane knows the foundation inside out. We are coming out of a three-year strategic plan and he wasn’t just a part of it, but he led it from the jump. He’s inclusive and he encourages a sense of creativity. He allows you to challenge his own ideas, and that style of leadership is ideal.”

Neville Charlton, fellow CVSS awardee (young leader award) and public relations and engagement assistant at Digicel Foundation, echoed similar sentiments.

“Dane is an optimist and a go-getter. He’s not the conventional leader; he tries to get everyone’s opinion. He’s very passionate about anything he does,” he told The Gleaner.

Foundation Chairperson Jean Lowrie-Chin also expressed confidence that Richardson’s passion and leadership strength would propel the organisation towards achieving more for communities.

Richardson credits his immediate family for fostering his growth and development while citing his mother as a daily tower of strength and motivation.

In speaking to his vision for the foundation, the shrewd executive said: “It is important that I build on our solid 12-year history. The former CEOs have created a fantastic platform for creating more positive change in Jamaica. I see Digicel Foundation contributing to a sustainable Jamaica for all. Through a shared-value proposition, the foundation can deepen its efforts in tackling serious national issues through alignment with key government and non-government agencies to ensure investments are impactful and sustained.”

The end of 2016 saw more than

J$3 billion invested by the foundation in communities islandwide, impacting more than 580,000 Jamaicans since inception.

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170102/dane-richardson-takes-reins-digicel-foundation

Digicel, JCPD Grant Christmas Wish

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An enterprising young Jamaica living with cerebral palsy will remember this Christmas as the time he entered the workforce as an entrepreneur, after receiving a new computer, printer and external hard drive for his start-up technology firm, Ventura Tech.

While more than 3,000 children will ‘Get Gifted’ with toys, courtesy of Digicel during Christmas treats to be held islandwide.

The gift to Roshane Foster, who has refused to let the cerebral palsy crush his dreams, was made possible through collaboration between Digicel Foundation and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD).

A recent surprise visit to Roshane’s house in Manchester brought tears of joy from his mother Gennie Facey, who was happy to see her son’s entrepreneurial dream come to life.

“Roshane has always wanted to start his own business and I have always known that he had it in him to be successful, but as a single parent it has been difficult to give him all he would need to succeed. I am so very appreciative. I could not ask for more,” said Facey.

A GOOD START

She noted that this was a good start for Ventura Tech, a name hand-picked by her son for his business.

Roshane already supports his community through graphic design and other digital services. However, with new gadgets, he will now have better equipment to extend his business portfolio.

As Roshane spoke it became clear that he had great passion for his business. “Ventura Tech is very unique because I try to make sure each design is different and I listen to my customers, so that I can give them what they ask for. I put my heart and soul in each design so that makes a big difference.”

He was eager to share his vision for the future, saying, “I see myself in the next five years with at least two computer shops and giving back to the persons who helped me to make my dream come true.”

“We want to celebrate the resilient spirit of champions like Roshane, who want to contribute meaningfully, despite the hurdles along their way,” said Dane Richardson, director of operations at the Digicel Foundation.

Through several initiatives, the foundation supports organisations to help address challenges in the disability sector.

FAR-REACHING EFFORTS

“Working with key agencies like the JCPD helps to ensure that our efforts are far-reaching and impactful,” said Richardson.

From his certification in information technology and business administration to his own volunteerism in becoming the first active Rotaract Club member living with cerebral palsy, Roshane has made great strides.

In speaking about his next steps, he was steadfast in sharing how he wants to channel his own success to actively supporting members of the special-needs community.

“What I want is for persons to stop looking down on people with disabilities. We have a lot to offer, just like anyone else,” said Roshane.

In the meantime, Digicel will continue giving toys to children tomorrow, with the Usain Bolt Treat in Sherwood Content Trelawny

Digicel Jamaica CEO David Butler said toy-giving has become a happy tradition of the company.

“Nothing warms our hearts more at this time of the year than seeing the joy a toy brings to children’s faces. We are always very happy to support our ambassadors and community organisations that work hard to ensure we extend smiles right across Jamaica during the Yuletide,” said Butler.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161225/digicel-jcpd-grant-christmas-wish

Seniors Party At Christmas

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This Christmas is no ordinary season of merriment for the seniors. The festivities have already reached mega levels as many of them turned out in fine style for a soca party planned and hosted by the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP).

Well over one hundred members of the seniors’ organisation gathered on the rooftop of the Phoenix Central building at 2 Phoenix Avenue, St Andrew, recently for an evening of fun and frolic. The event was a huge success as members enjoyed dancing to soca music from the eighties and nineties, played by Sapphire Disco with selector Omar C. For supper, they had a delicious meal catered by Phoenix Central’s Cafe Nita.

It was a time of lively fellowship, and the seniors enjoyed the breathtaking view of Kingston from the rooftop.

Jean Lowrie-Chin, CCRP’s founder and executive chair, was quite pleased with the turnout. She said that based on the positive feedback from the members who attended the event, the soca party could well become CCRP’s signature Christmas event.

Although they came prepared for an evening of dining and dancing, the CCRP members also brought the spirit of giving as they all came with gift bags filled with items of toiletries to donate to the Golden Age Home.

It has been a custom of the organisation since its inception in 2010 that at its annual Christmas event members would bring gift items for donation to the Golden Age Home. The gifts have been presented to the home by members of the CCRP Caring Committee.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161223/seniors-party-christmas

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Photo: Alia Atkinson pays courtesy call on GraceKennedy

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Jamaica’s swimming sensation and GraceKennedy Brand Ambassador Alia Atkinson has been occupied this festive season with visiting organisations that have supported her, and expressing her gratitude. Among these was GraceKennedy (GK) Group, whose headquarters she visited in downtown Kingston on Monday, December 19. There she spent quality time with Don Wehby, CEO, GraceKennedy Group, and the staff members. Here, as part of her visit, Wehby shows her a photograph he still cherishes which includes him, Atkinson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, another GK brand ambassador.

CCRP Shares the Love this Festive Season

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On Tuesday, December 13, members of the Caring Committee of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) visited the Golden Age Home in Kingston where they handed over items of toiletries to the residents of Cluster D which were donated by their members at their Christmas Party held on December 6. Here, Morelene Moncrieffe (left), Supervisor of Cluster D accepts one of the bags with the donations from Hanna Dixon.

CCRP Celebrates with PriceSmart at Sovereign Centre

CCRP CELEBRATES WITH PRICESMART AT SOVEREIGN CENTRE: Executives from the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) (from left) Donna Singh, Marketing & Development Consultant; Jean Lowrie-Chin, Executive Chair; Denise Eldemire Shearer, Honorary Chair and Dorett Linton, Acting CEO, join with Jodi Lee Oakley (center) of PriceSmart in cutting a celebratory cake at the CCRP Christmas Bazaar at Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, St Andrew on Tuesday, December 20. Through the generosity of the management of Sovereign Centre, members of the seniors’ organisation were invited to display and sell their Jamaican made items at a store in the shopping centre during the Christmas season. The space was provided to CCRP rent and maintenance free.

Here are some highlights from the location.

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GraceKennedy Fetes Seniors In The Spirit Of Christmas

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Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

The senior citizens were the ones being feted, gently tapping the desk or rocking to the beat of Christmas carols as they caught up with friends from neighbouring communities at the De La Vega Community Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, recently, but Don Wehby was clearly having just as much fun.

“This is the nicest part of my job,” the GraceKennedy Group chief executive officer shared with The Gleaner in-between greeting some of the more than 60 persons who turned out for the annual Christmas treat hosted by the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation.

Former GraceKennedy employee Desreen Mighty caught Wehby off guard when she proudly showed him two identification cards from her days with the company, having spent 28 years on staff.

GREAT MEMORIES

As she started right out of school, the older of the two cards showed her with an Afro hairstyle and with her maiden name, Allen.

However, she proudly pointed out to Wehby that it had been signed by the late Carlton Alexander, former chairman and chief executive officer of Grace.

The retired 75-year-old described the company as “outstanding” and was quite willing to share stories about her time spent there.

Drawn from March Pen, Lakes Pen, Lime Tree, Quarrie Hill and De La Vega City, the beneficiaries are selected by members of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation who work in these communities, and the event is eagerly anticipated, according to Joan Black, treasurer of the De La Vega City Benevolent Society.

“It is always well received,” she disclosed.

All the senior citizens were treated to Grace gift baskets, as well as lively interaction with members of the GraceKennedy Group and the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, who combined their singing talents to form a company choir, serving up rousing rounds of carols and Yuletide cheer.

It was obvious that, for the retirees, some of whom had been bussed to the location, it was a welcomed intervention.

Wehby really made their day when he promised that as long as he is head of GraceKennedy Limited, they would always have a Christmas treat. For this, he earned a sustained round of applause.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161221/spreading-christmas-cheer-grace-fetes-seniors-spirit-christmas