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St. Ann Parish Manager for the Social Development Commission (SDC), Hillory McBayne (left); and SDC's Director, Local Economic Development and Community Projects, Avril Ranger (right), present a grant cheque to Melisha Coke of Aisha’s Inspirations, a Local Economic Initiative in St. Ann, at the St. Ann Community Market and Business Fair, held in May 2020.

Businesses Can Apply for SDC Grants

Eligible civil society organisations (CSOs) and grassroots businesses can now apply for grant funding from the Social Development Commission (SDC), during its Call for Proposals period of September 28 to October 30. Grants available to CSOs include the Local Economic...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), greets Chairman of the National Council for Senior Citizens, Dorothy Findlayson (left), at the media launch of Senior Citizens' Week, at the Ministry in downtown Kingston on Friday (September 25). At centre is Principal Social Worker at the Council, Cassandra Morrison.

Jamaicans Encouraged to Shower Love on Elders September 27

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) recently signed a $38 million agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and FHI 360 Local Development Partner to support the ‘Positive Youth Transformation Project’, which is facilitating ongoing case management initiatives for nearly 100 youth in two St. James communities. The youngsters are already participating in interventions that will improve their coping skills and support them to build sustainable livelihoods and orient themselves for lifelong learning. Here, Deputy Director General External Cooperation Management, Barbara Scott (2nd right); and Director for the PIOJ’s Community Renewal Programme (CRP), Charles Clayton (right), celebrate the partnership forged with (from left): USAID Programme Specialist, Claudette Anglin; USAID Country Representative, Jason Fraser; and Chief of Party, FHI-360 LPD, Morana Smodlaka Krajnovic.

PHOTO: PIOJ/USAID 38 Million partnership supporting youth transformation in St James communities

Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Board (REB)/Commission of Strata Corporations (CSC), Sandra Garrick.

Real Estate Board Introduces New Community Management Course

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a recent digital town hall, where he commended the work of agencies under the Ministry.

Minister McKenzie Commends Staff Of Portfolio Agencies

5 years ago CommunityDevelopment

At-risk youth in Clarendon to benefit from crime-prevention initiative

Two hundred at-risk youth from communities across the parish of Clarendon are to benefit through a new crime-prevention initiative – the Clarendon Collaborative Action Project. The initiative is a new approach to crime prevention that utilises several integrated social strategies to address deviant and antisocial behaviours among youth and empower them to become productive members of society. The project will...

5 years ago CommunityDevelopment

The Social Development Commission closes offices for sanitization

The Social Development Commission is advising that its Corporate Office, Kingston and St. Andrew, Portmore and St Thomas Offices will be closed to the public Tuesday August 25, 2020 and Wednesday August 26, 2020. The temporary closure is to facilitate deep cleaning and sanitization of the offices given the exposure of staff to an individual who has tested positive for...

5 years ago CommunityHealth & Wellness

Rural schools benefit from WASH workshop

Five schools in rural Jamaica have benefited from a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ‘Training of Trainers’ Workshop, organised by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). Participants included 20 principals, guidance counsellors, teachers and ancillary staff from the Boston Primary School in Portland; Grange Hill Primary School, Westmoreland; Jacks River Primary School, St. Mary; Mount Moriah Primary School, St. Ann,...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left); and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, tour a section of Grange Pen in St. James, recently.

5 years ago CommunityHousing

Gov’t Committed To Regularising Informal Communities

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says the Government is committed to transforming informal settlements into structured, livable neighbourhoods. “In 2020, there should be no one living in improper infrastructure and, therefore, this Government is committed to [correcting] that,” he said. “What is very clear is that there are informal settlements...

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (2nd right) unveils the recently constructed welcome sign to the Barrett Town community in St. James, following a tour of the area on Friday (August 7). Sharing in the moment (from left) are: World Bank Resident Representative, Ozan Sevimli; European Union Ambassador to Jamaica, Malgorzata Wasilewska; Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeny and Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for St. James East Central, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

5 years ago CommunityPrime Minister

PM Hands Over Several Projects In Barrett Town

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, officially handed over several infrastructure projects in the Barrett Town community in St. James on Friday (August 7), which were completed under the European Union (EU) funded Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP) and the World Bank funded Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP). The projects, which primarily seek to promote public safety and crime reduction,...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, speaks at a recent Ministry of Local Government and Community Development digital town hall, where he announced that the Commission

5 years ago Community

SDC To Stage National Community Cricket Competition

The Social Development Commission (SDC) has announced that its National Community Cricket Competition will be staged as planned. “We are going to do the National Community Cricket Competition starting August 23 to December 13, with strict protocols and the blessing of the Ministry of Health (and Wellness) and the Government at large. There are 207 teams registered and we are...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, addresses a recent digital town hall hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

5 years ago Community

Budget Boost Enables SDC To Increase Community Engagement

Social Development Commission (SDC) Executive Director, Dr. Dwayne Vernon, says a 79 per cent increase in the agency’s operating budget over the last four years has enabled the entity to strengthen engagement with communities across the island. “We are looking at $730 million in 2016 to now $1.2 billion in 2020/2021. We are now seeing a 79 per cent increase...