Jamaican Diaspora Members Raise $25 Million For Education

Members of the Jamaican Diaspora have raised US$250,000 (J$25 million), to help with the programme to improve literacy and numeracy in schools.

State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, who made the announcement, said the contribution of the group to education in Jamaica has been far-reaching over the years, and is part of their firm commitment to build their home country.

He added that the group has also assisted with the donation of books, computers and other educational supplies.

The State Minister was delivering the keynote address at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston, on November 19, at the Hotel Four Seasons, in St. Andrew.

Pointing out that over the past decade, US$16 billion has been sent home by overseas Jamaicans, Mr. Brown said migration has had a positive component, with several countries using it to aid development, through advanced skills that the nationals gain in their adopted countries, as well as the resources that they invest in their homeland.

“Many migrant communities are the engines of growth in their respective host countries, and at the same time they contribute significantly to their home countries from which they come,” he added.

Meanwhile, the State Minister encouraged the Rotarians to use their global reach to promote the Jamaican Diaspora Mapping Project. Through the flexibility of an online survey, the project is designed to identify the locations, skills, expertise and interests of members of the global Jamaican Diaspora.

“Support this very important project. You have a network of Clubs globally, and in many of those Clubs are Jamaicans. Enlist them in this project, which is critical to national development,” the State Minister urged.