Supporting Education and Community Development
Sister School Programs
The Sister School Program empowers students to participate in a relationship building opportunity between Canada, The United States, Central America and Jamaica. Its goal is to create cross cultural relationships in order to help children develop an understanding of and respect for a culture different than their own and to give them a better understanding of the world in which they live.
We hope to increase global awareness, compassion, and grassroots activism. Through our program children are able to experience the life changing effect of personally giving to those less fortunate.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Our first sister school in Jamaica is with Francis Jackson’s class at the Johnjoyce Watson Basic School in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Through the generosity of several teachers and classrooms in Pennsylvania, we have adopted this class of twenty-two students. We have gathered school supplies, which we will be taking to the school on Monday, November 28th. At this time, we will get to meet Francis and the children. This program will be ongoing and we could use your help. Francis reports that the children could use: individual size chalkboards, stuffed toys, blocks, markers, coloring books, puzzles, puzzle mats, play dough, water paints and brushes, letter and number stencils and plastic aprons for painting. The children range in age from 3-7. The school could also use musical instruments and balls and sports equipment.
With help from you, we can make a huge impact on the lives of these children!
Johnjoyce Watson Basic School Receives Supplies!
On Tuesday, November 29th and Wednesday, November 30th 2011 we had the privilege of visiting with Mrs. Jackson and her class at the Johnjoyce Watson Basic school and delivering our donated school supplies. The children were so friendly and happy to meet with us. The children will be exchanging letters with their sister school here in the United States and we will be taking more donations to them in February.
Windsor Early Childhood Care and Development Center
Brick Making Apprenticeship Program
Direct Abundance has obtained and repaired a brick-making machine. We also have obtained the services of an experienced brick-maker in St. Ann’s Bay who is willing to oversee our apprenticeship program. This is a very exciting program and could provide employment opportunities for many young men in Jamaica, while at the same time building churches and schools. We would eventually like to see the young men employed in this program offered the opportunity to complete their high school education during their apprenticeship. We can make all of this a reality with your continued support!
Buy A Block And Create Employment Opportunities
For only one dollar, you can purchase a block to help us build a classroom for the Windsor Early Childhood Care and Development Center. Where else can a one dollar donation do so much?
Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause.
Jamaican Chicken Farms
We will be meeting with several women’s groups in Windsor, St. Ann’s, Jamaica, on Saturday, November 26th to discuss the initiation of the second phase of our project in Jamaica. During this phase, it is our hope to begin several projects that will allow the people of Jamaica to eventually be able to sustain themselves through meaningful employment opportunities within their communities. To this end, we are hoping to build several chicken farms which will be operated by the women of the Claremont area. Each farm will employ four women and will feed many families. We are also looking into the possibility of building a sewing cooperative and a bee farm.
During our recent trip to Jamaica, we were greatly blessed to receive the donation of a chicken coop that is already built from a local school. The coop has been sitting empty because the people cannot afford the chickens. We are currently working to raise the money to purchase the chickens and supplies to make this coop into a successful business for the community.
Mission Trips To Jamaica!
Direct Abundance is organizing a Mission trip to Jamaica for May, 2012. We will be working in the Windsor community in St. Ann’s; building a classroom and a chicken coop. Please watch the website for further information on this exciting opportunity.