Alumni Associations Meet on Aug. 26 to Discuss Help for Schools

Members of several alumni associations representing primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Jamaica will meet tomorrow, (August 26), to share ideas on how the groups can undertake joint projects to benefit schools in Jamaica.
Under the leadership of the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board representative for the Southern United States, Marlon Hill, the group would convene at the Florida Atlantic University in Davie, as part of on-going efforts of the Jamaican Diaspora to forge partnerships for the country’s economic development, and at the same time, enhance the impact of members in their respective communities abroad.
Presently, some 50 alumni association chapters are functioning as non-profit organizations in Florida State, representing their alma mater in Jamaica, and are also listed with the Jamaica Consulate General in Miami.
Through annual fundraisers and mission trips over the years, members of those organizations have been contributing meaningfully to the development of those alma maters, through a variety of projects, including annual scholarships, lunch-feeding programmes, on-going donation of supplies and equipment, mentoring programmes, mission groups to assist in development programmes, as well as contributions to erect additional buildings at some schools.
Members of alumni groups have also participated in community outreach programmes in their respective communities abroad.
Following the June 2004 historic launch of the National Diaspora Conference in Jamaica, members of some Florida-based alumni chapters of Jamaican schools began to meet collectively to co-ordinate efforts for resource development and collaboration. Those meetings were initiated by Dr. Rupert Rhodd, President of the Florida chapter of Wolmer’s High School.
According to Mr. Hill the August 26 meeting would continue to develop the capacity and effectiveness of the associations in their on-going programmes at home and within the Diaspora.