JPS Foundation Stages ‘Summer Camp Ablaze’ Youth Programme in Farm Heights, St. James

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation recently concluded its ‘Summer Camp Ablaze’ programme, which exposed some 105 children in Farm Heights, St. James, to tools and best practices tailored to enhance their growth and development.

The two-week initiative, which was held for the second year, climaxed with a reading competition and awards ceremony at the Farm Heights United Church on Friday (July 26).

Children in the camp were involved in educational and extracurricular activities incorporating presentations from agencies, as well as engagements to stimulate their minds.

Among these were personal development exercises, sports, career talks, entertainment and culture, and art and craft.

Senior JPS Vice President for Customer Service, Ramsey McDonald, who addressed the youngsters, said the Foundation relished the opportunity to facilitate the engagement, and is looking forward to next year’s staging because “[we] are investing in young minds who are going to help to shape [Jamaica’s] future”.

“As a Foundation, our intentions are always to give back and to help develop the young people in our country. These little ones, as they grow and when you see them, you recognize how much they depend on us [society],” he noted.

Against this background, Mr. McDonald said the organization is “committing to a third year with Farm Heights, because this is not a short-term journey for us”.

“We are giving these children every opportunity to be the future citizens and leaders in the communities, this parish and in this nation,” he added.

JPS Foundation Programmes Officer, Allaine Harvey, indicated that the initiative was a collaborative venture between the entity and its partners.

“Having 105 children being engaged for the summer period is no simple task, and it is something that could have not been done by JPS alone,” he stated.

Other partners, he informed, included the St. James Parish Library, Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP), National Youth Service (NYS), and Farm Heights Community Development Committee (CDC).

“It was a pleasure dealing with the day to day operations of the camp and engaging the children. It was fun, informative and it is one that I know the children benefited from significantly,” Mr. Harvey stated.

The JPS Foundation has been active in Farm Heights for several years. It recently donated 14 new computers to the community’s homework centre and invested in beautifying the facility.

Additionally, the community’s renowned Heights Marching Band also got an upgrade to their drill square, courtesy of the Foundation.