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Paula Henry, a member of The Jamaica National Group, for the past five years, was happy that she attended the Bewi$e Programme’s Financial Literacy Seminar, which was held at the JN Bank’s Spanish Town Branch, on July 18.
“I learned that you must save often. If you never saved before, it was time to start,” the mother of seven said, as she reacted to the session which was presented by Rose Miller, grants manager, at the JN Foundation.
Mrs. Miller informed the approximately 20 participants about the value of savings, advising that, “At least 10 per cent of your income should go towards savings, as soon as you receive your pay; and budget the remaining sum for your on-going expenses.”
For Mrs. Paula Henry, the “take away,” was the importance of planning now for one’s retirement.
“I need to start my pension fund because I have not started it yet. I never learned that from anybody. And, I now recognise that JN Bank is really like a family; and I appreciate what I have learned,” she said of the session.
For Wentle Lodge, a JN member who has resided in England for some 30 years; and was on vacation in Jamaica, his “take away lesson,” was how to manage a credit card.
“I always thought having a credit card was like creating a trench of debt and avoided using it. However, Mrs. Miller’s presentation was an eye opener,” he stated.
She advised participants that, “This is money loaned to you by a creditor, to make purchases and pay the bill at a later date. However, you must ensure that you use your card wisely; and pay off your credit card bill in full, on time, and all the time, to avoid paying back interest and racking up a debt you will struggle to repay.

Mrs. Miller also explained that it was important to pick the right credit card, which is suitable for your needs; read and fully understand the terms of the agreement. “Obtaining a credit card helps you to save your money and use money loaned to you; it
is also a good tool in cases of an emergency,” she added.
Mr. Lodge was adamant that he will be bolstering his investment options, as he pointed out that, relying on one’s pension savings only will not guarantee a comfortable standard of living during retirement.

“I personally believe in investment. I have bought properties and I am exploring other business options,” he shared.

Mrs Miller pointed out that The JN’s Be Wise Financial Literacy Project was launched by the JN Foundation, in collaboration with the Inter-American Dialogue in June 2013.Initially, the programme targeted remittance customers, many of whom were unbanked; and, it was subsequently expanded to include other groups, including children. 
Using a toolkit designed to debunk the myth that financial independence is a dream attainable by only a few, the workshops promoted the idea that, with knowledge, discipline and commitment, financial independence can be achieved by many.
“The programme was revamped in 2015, and renamed the Financial Empowerment Programme,” she explained, “And since then, it has become one of the most sought after programmes at the JN Foundation, as more people become aware that proper money management is necessary in the quest to achieve their financial goals.”
“We welcome the response from participants, as the programme continues to achieve a high level of success, transforming lives and providing hope, as members embrace their role and responsibility in the quest for financial freedom,” Mrs Miller stated.
Since 2014, it is estimated that some 15,235 persons have benefitted from financial empowerment training.

Mixing social and corporate took on a new light in the courtyard of Opa Greek Restaurant at Devon House last Thursday evening at the first staging of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative’s (SEBI) Biz Mix series.

With summer in full swing, invitees stayed cool as they made connections and enjoyed the evening, titled a night of ‘speed dating’.

Following a Privilege Walk that challenged social enterprise entrepreneurs to reveal the assistance their businesses have received; introductory speeches were given by Solomon Sharpe of Main Event and Kadeem Petgrave of SEBI Social Enterprise EducaTours detailing how they made networking work for their businesses.

For Sharpe it was all about using his network to grow and diversify into an even larger company. Meanwhile Petgrave noted that when Educatours had no resources to fulfil the first booking it received, he realised the need to get creative, and fast, with no small thanks to his Jamaica College-powered network.

It was a night of friends and collaborators, both new and renewed.

Guests mingled in the transformed venue – decorated as a gallery – showcasing the work of SEBI members from across the island and from rural to urban.

They enjoyed the delicious fare of Callaloopita, Chilli Potato Fritters, Opa BBQ Wings, Keftadakia, and stamp-and-go; before participating in the ‘getting to know you’ part of the night.

After a short break it was time to get to the ‘meet’ of the matter. Dubbed a ‘marriage in five minutes’ by master of ceremonies Ryan Dixon, owners of social enterprises were given the opportunity to sit and share ideas, goals and get advice from larger corporations. And the speed dating element? This had to be done in a few minutes before it was time to switch chairs and have the conversation with someone new.

According to Onyka Barrett-Scott, General Manager of JN Foundation, which runs SEBI, “Everyone wants to find the perfect match – even in business. Our social enterprises can benefit from meeting team members from larger companies to gain connections, get guidance and learn how to network. This event is a part of the culmination of over five years’ work for SEBI; we’ve helped catalyse the work of over 20 businesses – who have made a difference in their communities and contributed to the country’s GDP.”

The Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) is a joint JN Foundation United States Agency for Development (USAID) project.

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Onyka Barrett Scott (left), acting general manager of the JN Foundation; Hon. Floyd Green (third left), Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Rebecca Tortello, education specialist at UNICEF Jamaica sign the pledge board in support of improving child road safety. Looking on are Dr. Earl Bailey (second left) of the University of Technology and lead researcher of the Child Road Safety Assessment Report and Lone Hvass, deputy representative, UNICEF Jamaica. Occasion was the launched of the Child Road Safety Assessment Report at the University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters on Wednesday, July 18.

In 2017, 317 persons died due to crashes on Jamaican roads. Recent data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force Road Traffic Division indicates that on average, three children are killed on Jamaica’s roads, monthly. Overall, close to two per cent of total deaths in the country is a result of road traffic crash.

According to a recent Road Safety Report, commissioned by the JN Foundation, some 85 percent of these accidents are largely caused by speeding and careless driving. Given that school enrollment is high, with pre-primary enrolment at 99.7 per cent ; primary at 92.1 per cent  and secondary at 94.5 per cent, child pedestrians represent the most vulnerable group of road users.

To address this, the JN Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the FIA Foundation have implemented the “X Marks the Spot,” a Crosswalk Road Safety Campaign, in which schools will benefit from the erection of signage for bus lay-bys, pedestrian gates, and the widening and paving of sidewalks.

Hazard Primary School in Clarendon will be the first beneficiary of this campaign. Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, said that the work at Hazard Primary School will benefit the community including JN members who reside in this parish.

“We are happy to be implementing the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign, as we see major benefits, not only for our nation’s children, but also the communities in which our members reside,” she added.
Winsome Atkinson, acting principal at Hazard Primary, said she was elated that her school was the first to be selected by the campaign and welcomed the planned work to improve the safety of students and adults.
“We appreciate that JN Foundation thought about Hazard, because we are actually midway between Mineral Heights and May Pen Town, hence, we are located in a busy thoroughfare. I’m happy that it will improve the safety of our students,” she said.
Mrs. Atkinson informed that the school had experienced several accidents at its gate; and, thankfully, to date, none were fatal. “I know that the proposed improvements will enhance safety for our children and the members of our community,” she maintained.

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Four social enterprises, which are part of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative’s (SEBI) Accelerator Programme, recently participated in a knowledge exchange during a Social Innovation Summit and study tour in the US.
The SEBI Accelerator is a business development programme that is tailored to support the growth of 15 existing social enterprises through leadership effectiveness training; introduction to growth strategies; mentorship and networking opportunities.
The accelerator is a key deliverable of this phase of the project and is supported by JN Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The four participants in the summit were: Seretse Small of Avant Academy of Music; Kristofferson Nunes of UCA Marketing, Laci-Ann Bartley of Bartley’s All In Wood; and Lashawndla Bailey of Inzzpire 365.
“I learned a lot during the visit, particularly that collaboration is important across industries and fields to ignite innovation; to focus on the user,” said Kristofferson Nunes, chief executive officer of UCA Marketing, a start-up social enterprise, which seeks job opportunities for tertiary students, while simultaneously offering corporate brands access to a fluid labour force and millennial consumers.
For Seretse Small, chief executive officer of Avant Academy of Music, the exposure was excellent. “What was transformational was being able to meet diverse persons, from investors to not for profit innovators to social entrepreneurs; and to learn how they interacted with each other,” he stated.
“It was interesting to hear investors speak about their experience working with founders, the challenges of getting funding and creating enterprises which also have social impact,” he added.
Avant Academy of Music is a music school, which was established in 2013,to change the paradigm of music education in Jamaica.
The Social Innovation Summit is one of the most renowned summits, which support the development of business, as a force for doing good. It was held under the theme “Social Innovation,” and took place in the Silicon Valley, California.
Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, outlined that the social entrepreneurs also participated in a study tour of the Silicon Valley as part of experience.
“This was a critical component of the knowledge exchange, as it allowed the participants to interact with other social change agents in the Silicon Valley eco-system, understand their business models, their entrepreneurial journey and methods of resourcing – all important ingredients for generating strong and successful businesses,” she posited.
She further added, “for us at the JN Foundation, enabling such an exchange is a part of our ongoing commitment to the development of the social enterprise space, and a demonstration of the use of businesses as a force for good and betterment of Jamaica.”
The social entrepreneurs visited: Impact Hub San Francisco, a member based organisation catering to the needs of the sector in San Francisco; BayCat, led by a successful Wall Street broker turned social innovator, who uses the creative arts to change the pejorative narrative that pigeonholes many minority communities, to an authentic one told through the voices of the community.
They also visited Benetech, a social enterprise that produces “software for good.”The business leverages technology to deliver information to persons in the blind, deaf and mentally challenged communities.
The Social Enterprise Boost Initiative, a project of the JN Foundation and the USAID is in its final phase. Through the Accelerator Programme, entrepreneurs are being targeted to further enhance their social businesses.

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Five wards from the Homestead Place of Safety in Spanish Town, St Catherine, received insight about different careers in the beauty sector; and benefitted from financial empowerment training, when they attended the JN Small Business Loans (JNSBL) Barber and Beauty Seminar, at the JN Conference Centre, on June 19.

The wards, who were between the ages of 13 and 16, are being informed about sundry career options, as part of an initiative by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), formerly the Child Development Agency, to introduce wards in their care to various professions.

“We brought them here to gain an understanding about various careers; and the opportunities for funding, for those who want to venture into entrepreneurship, when they leave our care,” explained Venice Campbell, health and social care assistant supervisor, Homestead Place of Safety.

“For those who want to become entrepreneurs, we did not simply want them to say, ‘I am going to open a business.’ We wanted them to understand how to manage their operations, the different areas they can explore; and what they needed to do, to enable them to receive funding,” she explained

Miss Campbell added that they were introduced to the seminar through the JN Foundation, who informed them about the benefits that members in the beauty industry received when they entered the JNSBL Barber and Beauty Battle.

“We normally do counselling sessions with wards to determine their interests; and, based on their response, we selected the ones who are present today, to join us. We also know that when they return to the facility, they will inform the other girls about what they learned,” she explained.
The young ladies also had the opportunity to observe barbers, hairdressers, nail technicians and make-up artists, working together to formulate a business plan and then pitching for funding.

One of the wards of the state explained that she had learned a lot from the seminar.

“Before I came here, I was unaware that there were so many different careers in the beauty industry, or that it was such a lucrative field. Now that I have learned how profitable it can be; and wide the field is, I will consider it as a possible career path,” she said.

OcKino Petrie, marketing manager, JNSBL, and chairman of the JNSBL Barber and Beauty Planning Committee, stated that the young women were invited as part of the competition’s thrust to expose as many persons as possible to: the different careers, the skills needed, and the opportunities which exist in the beauty sector.

“It’s a vibrant sector, which facilitates entrepreneurship; and has flexibility. Therefore, persons can set their own working hours,” he explained. “We thought that by introducing younger persons to the sector, they would appreciate that the industry offers vibrant successful careers and they would be their own bosses. “
The JNSBL Barber and Beauty seminar was mounted to update the 24 finalists in this year’s competition about: salon management practices, financial planning, opportunities for funding, and educational trends in the sector.

An added component to this year’s seminar was the division of the contestants into groups. Each group was required to come up with a business plan and pitch for funding. At the end, the winning group, “In the Streets Mobile Beauty Salon,” with a team of six persons, received $50,000, for their mobile salon business plan, designed to serve patrons in hospitals, golden age homes and the disabled.  

                                                              
Contact: Leighton Williams l JN Corporate Communications

A typical single family home in Jamaica uses approximately 3,000 to 5,000 gallons of water per month with approximately 10 per cent being wasted, according to data from the National Water Commission (NWC).

However, the public company with responsibility for the distribution of potable water across the country notes that water consumption at home can be reduced by as much as 30 per cent, by using proper water saving devices and good conservation practices.
Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation said that, “The Jamaica National Group recognises the importance of water conservation, especially in an environment where climate change is a real threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS),such as Jamaica and for many, water lock offs and dry taps are a frequent reality.”As such, the JN Group has partnered with the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) to seek meaningful solutions through the four-year Water Project Jamaica.
“The Water Project Jamaica focuses on the important role that householders and real estate developers can and should play, through the adaptation of water efficiency technologies,” she said. “It aims to introduce householders and developers to technologies, which can help us to better manage our water supply.”

Some of these water adaptation measures include: the use of rain water harvesting systems; water efficient taps and showers; low-flush toilets; efficient irrigation systems; grey water recycling facilitiesand other appropriate efficiency measures.

Mrs. Barrett Scott noted that in addition to the benefits to the wider householder network,Jamaica National members stand to benefit from the Water Project of Jamaica.

“The JN Foundation, part implementer of the Water Project, has began awareness efforts and will further roll out several activities to foster greater awareness about the many water-efficiency technologies which can be incorporated into the home-building and home improvement process. In turn, several sections of the society, JN members included, stand to experience direct and indirect cost savings and gain economic and environmental benefits,” she explained.
Mrs. Barrett Scott said that the four-year project will not only raise awareness about the threats of climate change; but, will also build local capacity, to design and install water adaptation measuresand provide loans to implement the technologies.
“The loan component of the project will cover the on-lending of funds for the Integration of Water Adaptation Measures in new and existing Jamaican housing and will be administered by the JN Bank,” she said.

Persons can access this loan, through JN Bank, to facilitate the installation of water saving measures and technologies, which would not otherwise have been purchased.The loan component of the project is scheduled to come on stream in September 2018.

In the interim, JN Members can start to take action within their household to be more responsive to changing climatic conditions.  For steps you can take to be Water efficient at home, please read the Water Project’s Homeowner’s Guide to Water Use efficiency at http://www.waterprojectja.com/resources/

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Hazard Primary School in Clarendon will benefit from improvements to its road infrastructure, with enhanced safety for students commuting to the educational institution.
The upgrading will be implemented by the JN Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)and the FIA Foundation.Under the project, “X Marksthe Spot,”a Crosswalk Road Safety Campaign, the school will benefit from the erection of signage for bus lay-bys, pedestrian gates, as well as, the widening and paving of sidewalks.
Winsome Atkinson, acting principal at Hazard Primary,said she was elated that her school was the first to be selected by the campaign and welcomed the planned work to improve the safety of students and adults.
“We appreciate that JN Foundation thought about Hazard, because we are actually midway between Mineral Heights and May Pen Town, therefore, we are located along a busy thoroughfare. I’m happy, because it will improve the safety of our students,” she said.
Mrs. Atkinson informed that the school had experienced several accidents at its gate, though to date none were fatal. “I know that the proposed improvements will enhance safety for our children and the members of our community,” she pointed out.
Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, said that the work at Hazard Primary School was being facilitated under a broader initiative, the Child Road Traffic Injuries Prevention (CRTIP) project, to address the road safety crisis in Jamaica; and that, the X Marks the Spot Road Safety Campaign falls under CRTIP.

“The CRTIP intervention seeks to improve the safety of children travelling on roads, particularly near to, or on their way to schools, through research, advocacy and evidence-based interventions,” she explained.
Elements of the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign include: conducting a baseline assessment to determine the state of road safety within chosen school zones, infrastructure assessment, upgrading of a number of features aimed at improving safety around the school and advocacy.

The projected school improvement should be completed for school resumption in September. “We are indeed happy to be implementing the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign as we see clear benefit not only for our nation’s children but also the communities in which our members reside,” she added.

During the past two years, more than 40 children have lost their lives due to road traffic crashes in Jamaica. In 2017, 320 people died from road traffic crashes on our roads, of which six per cent were children. 

“The project successfully brings together several government and non-governmental stakeholders, including: the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, the National Works Agency, the Ministry of Transport and Mining, the Road Safety Unit, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, among others,”Mrs. Barrett Scott informed.
Established in 1962, Hazard Primary School has a population of approximately 600 students, inclusive of the Special Education Unit and a complement of some 27 teachers and nine ancillary members of staff.

Academically, the school holds its own in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), and this yearstudents were particularly successful,as most of them passed for entry to traditional high schools.
Mrs. Atkinson stated that the studentsalso excelled in sports; and, it’s Special Education Unit competes annually in the Special Olympics. Students at Hazard Primary also actively participate invibrant 4- H and Environmental Clubs.

Authur:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications l