Bishop Owen Martin is determined to change the community that helped to shape him into the spiritual leader he is today. Born and bred in the community of Savannah District, Hayes, Clarendon, the New York-based pastor is committed to impacting young lives through what he described as an “academic mission”, dubbed, ‘Operation Change, Let the Children Come’. Bishop Martin tells...

For 36 years, Senior Reporter at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Garfield Luther Angus, has been making a positive contribution to the development of his beloved community of Kitson Town in rural St. Catherine. Helping to improve the lives of residents, particularly students and the elderly, is at the heart of his endeavours. “I started making my contribution since I...

More than 1,000 residents from St. Ann benefited from a three-day medical mission spearheaded by HOPE Mission 360, a renowned nonprofit organisation committed to improving global healthcare access. The mission, led by a team of dedicated medical professionals and volunteers, set up temporary clinics from June 9 to 11 in Ocho Rios, Golden Grove, Claremont, Moneague and Mount Edgecome in...

The Government recognises the importance of facilitating and providing assistance to senior citizens, by establishing various programmes and services to meet their needs. One such initiative is the establishment and enablement of senior citizens' clubs across the island that provide opportunities for socialisation and recreation as well as access to essential services and resources. This is well demonstrated in the...

Scores of educational institutions and community groups are lauding the Digicel Foundation for providing grants of $28 million to do upgrading work and to establish income-generating projects. The Foundation recently provided the funds under its Community Development Programme as part of its celebration for 18 years of giving back to communities in all 14 parishes and to give recognition to...

Five hundred young children in the St. James Social Development Commission (SDC) ‘Teach the Youth Summer Camp 2022’ competed in Sport and the Performing Arts and enjoyed the fun-day activities presented on Friday, August 5. The event was held on the SDC playground in Albion, Montego Bay. Parish Manager for the SDC in St. James, Randy Hayle, told JIS News...

Principals, teachers and students of schools that participated in the recently concluded Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Inter-School Spelling Bee Competition are singing high praises for the initiative. The Spelling Bee Competition is an initiative under phase two of the Integrated Community Development Project (ICPD II), being funded by the Government of Jamaica. It was geared towards supporting literacy development...

The Social Development Commission (SDC), through its flagship initiative, Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), has been stimulating sustainable Local Economic Initiatives (LEIs) in communities across St. Elizabeth. This is evident in the Maggotty and Retirement areas whose LEIs were recipients of grants under the programme. The Merrywood Woodcrafters’ Creations in Maggotty, owned and operated by the Merrywood Community Development...

Even with challenges emanating from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to be a beacon of hope in connecting communities across the island with free Internet access. As at the end of March 2022, 101 community access Wi-Fi sites have been connected, with the remaining 88 to be done soon. This all-island government initiative where many...