THE ‘HELPING HANDS’ OF JAMAICAN-CANADIANS : VOLUNTOURISM IN PRACTICE

Jamaican-Canadians may not be as visible or as vocal as their fellow countrymen and countrywomen further down south in the USA, but they are no less committed to working for Jamaica’s development by way of tangible and practical support for projects in Jamaica particularly in the areas of health and education. One such organization is Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF).

Since its founding by Jamaican-born tennis champ Karl Hale in 2005, HHJF in partnership with private and corporate donors has gifted over CAD $1.7 million in infrastructure projects and in providing resources for early childhood education across Jamaica. The Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans by helping to create a world-class education system.  HHJF hosts annual fundraisers in Toronto such as the 5K ‘Jam-walk’, a brunch and ‘Jamrock’ a fundraising gala that is celebrating 14 years later this year. All monies raised thus far have been allocated to support education throughout Jamaica.

‘PARTICIPATE, EDUCATE, ELEVATE’

This is HHJF’s motto, based on the philosophy that by providing the opportunity for an education, barriers to a child’s success can be eliminated. In its early years, the Foundation focused its efforts on renovating existing schools and providing much needed school supplies. However, in 2009 Food for the Poor became HHJF’s implementing partner, which enabled the Foundation to expand its activities to the construction of brand new schools. To date they have built 19 new basic schools island-wide with Clarendon being the only parish that has not yet been touched by HHJF’s generosity. What is different about this HHJF school-building programme is that it goes beyond mere fund-raising; each year the Foundation teams with fellow Jamaicans, friends of Jamaica and celebrities for what they have dubbed Vouluntourism  when it organizes a one-week trip to Jamaica and joins with Food for the Poor and members of the local community in the actual construction of a new basic school. Celebrity names such as Serena Williams, Donovan Bailey, Shaggy, Shawn Paul Orlando Franklin, Stephen Tulloch have been among the volunteers ‘getting their hands dirty’ alongside Peter Jensen, David Morrison and organizations such as Maple Leaf Entertainment, Kisko, Sunwing and more recently, Carpenters Allied Union.

Video from 2018 build of Mount Pleasant Basic School, Port Antonio, Portlandhttps://www.dropbox.com/s/8ofhhem9gve6z70/jamaica%20final%20render.mp4?dl=0

To join HHJF this summer on the 20^th school build or more information please visit www.helpinghandsjamaica.com 

LIST OF NEW SCHOOLS BUILT TO DATE