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Post Caption: Carleigh Franklin (right), grand prize winner of a trip for two to Jamaica in the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) essay competition, views a pictorial book highlighting life in Jamaica during a courtesy call on Rose Miller (left) Manager, Strategic Empowerment Programmes, and Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, Lead, Youth & Education Programmes, at the JN Foundation New Kingston office on March 19.

Winning Moment

Carleigh Franklin was beside herself when her name was called as the grand prize winner of a trip for two to Jamaica in the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) essay competition, last year, while a student at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

She had awoken just five minutes before the start of the virtual ceremony and joined with little expectation of winning a prize.

“The person reading out the awards went down the list of names and I didn’t hear my name. Then, they got to the top spot and my name was read out. I was obviously in shock. My mom was sitting across from me at the dinner table, and we started jumping,” said Carleigh during a courtesy call at the JN Foundation with Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, Lead, Youth & Education Programmes and Rose Miller, Manager, Strategic Empowerment Programmes, at the JN Foundation New Kingston office on March 19.

A Reluctant Participant

The 19-year-old disclosed that she was hesitant to enter the competition but eventually did with encouragement from her mother, Prudence Franklin.

“It was my senior summer. I had just graduated; I had just written all my college essays,” she pointed out, explaining that she wanted the time to rest.  “My mom persuaded me to do one more essay. She had so much faith in my writing.”

Although Carleigh enjoys journalling and often received commendations from her English teachers for her writing, she had never previously considered entering an essay competition.

“I’ve never seen myself as a competitive writer,” she said.

Carleigh, now a freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, was accompanied by her mother and brother, Robert, on the trip.

About the Competition

Now in its 34th year, the annual UJAA High School Graduate Awards and Essay Competition is open to all US High School Seniors of Jamaican heritage.  The UJAA is a non-profit umbrella organisation for more than 60 alumni associations of Jamaican schools and other educational institutions.

The competition seeks to stimulate students to share their perspectives and personal experiences with different cultures. The prize trip to Jamaica aims to provide an opportunity for the winner to gain deeper insights into Jamaican life and culture.

In her essay entitled “The Best of Both Worlds,” Carleigh conveyed the diverse mix of her cultural background and how it influences her outlook on life.

“The intersections of my distinct backgrounds have created my unique cultural identity and have awarded me with a metaphorical view of my life. If each of my cultural backgrounds could be represented by the circles of a Venn diagram, the best of both worlds would exist within the intersection; the collision of two distinct rich cultures intertwining to make me,” she wrote.

“The strong unwavering spirit of Jamaica is built upon a rich history and powerful leaders, and knowledge of this heritage is the greatest tool I possess for guiding my future for  generations to come,” she expressed.

As the first generation of African-Americans in her family, Carleigh pointed out that her unique identity has allowed her and other Jamaican Americans like her to continue bridging the cultural dissonance existing between black immigrants and African Americans.

Empowering Through Education and Cultural Exchange

The Jamaica National Group and by extension, the JN Foundation, which places a high premium on youth, education, and the Diaspora, has been a supporter of the UJAA for many years, providing the winner with the opportunity to meet with members of the Jamaican team and to be exposed to the business sector in Jamaica.

Mrs Miller is proud of Carleigh’s accomplishments.

“She embodies the transformative power of education and cultural exchange. Her story reaffirms the importance of fostering connections within the Jamaican Diaspora and beyond. Carleigh’s journey exemplifies the profound impact of these initiatives, showcasing how education and cultural exchange can truly transform lives,” she related.

“Through dedicated efforts in youth engagement, financial empowerment, and community development, we, at the JN Foundation, are committed to fostering positive change and facilitating opportunities for growth. We are inspired by Carleigh’s journey and remain steadfast in our mission to empower young minds to reach their fullest potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

Although it was Carleigh’s sixth or seventh visit to the island, it was her first time visiting Kingston. She said she was thrilled to meet members of her maternal family for the first time who are living in Kingston.

“My life has changed. I’ve met so many family members. It’s so very emotional for me.”

Carleigh is currently studying Biology to pursue a career in medicine and healthcare. She hopes to bring transformation to healthcare services in the United States.

“With my communication skills I hope to bridge the gap between the healthcare system and patients of all backgrounds,” she said.

Rose Miller, manager of strategic empowerment programme at the JN Foundation, underscores the importance for persons to carefully manage their finances, at all times and in all seasons of live but particularly during retirement.

This she said especially because income is oftentimes reduced and pensioners still face high inflation, the constant upward movement in the price of food, medication and other goods and services.

Effective Expense Management

Mrs Miller stressed the importance of budgeting during this season of life to avoid over expenditure and even waste.

“As a pensioner, not only are you faced with reduced income and price increases, but additionally, many seniors must also factor in significant cost for healthcare and as you age, the cost of long-term care and assistance if and when you are no longer able to manage on your own.  Coupled with the fact that people are living longer in retirement, prudent financial management is crucial to avoid pensioners outliving their retirement savings,” she explained.

Tracking all expenses is one way to ensure that money is not spent on unnecessary purchases. Mrs Miller informed that for those seniors not averse to technology, using a budgeting app would be beneficial. With aggressive tracking of expenses and making some other spending adjustments, the savings can be great, she advised.

There are many free online budgeting tools, ranging from budgeting apps to spreadsheets, which can help seniors keep an eye on, and track their expenses.

Thrifty Spending Tips

“I would recommend frugal spending as much as possible, shopping where they can get the best prices, taking advantage of rewards and utilising substitutes wherever possible instead of the higher priced products are ways in which you can make the dollar stretch,” she indicated.

Mrs Miller said seniors should also be assertive, taking advantage of available discounts as well as those for which they qualify. Noting that sometimes seniors may be asked to prove their eligibility, pensioners should be prepared with the appropriate documents; proof of age or government-issued identification would be sufficient.   She also recommended teaming up with close friends or family members to purchase groceries in bulk.

Maximising Income Opportunities

To supplement their income, seniors should explore the option of monetising their skills or hobbies, Mrs Miller advised.

“If you have a skill or hobby that you can monetise, you should do that. For example, if you are a teacher, you can offer tutoring services during your retirement. There is also the option to acquire a new skill that can bring in income, and that should be explored.” she said.

Another avenue which could be pursued is property rental which would generate income.  Mrs Miller informed that seniors who have a large home could downsize and convert a section of the property to provide rental income.

She noted that owning a large home may not make sense. For some the option of selling their current home and purchasing a smaller house or condo might be more practical and attractive. This will reduce many expenses associated with the care and maintenance of the property and even security in some cases.

The manager of strategic empowerment programmes suggested that seniors also start a backyard garden where they can cultivate vegetables or general cash crops which could  generate income, but at the very least, reduce or eliminate purchases of these items. “Vegetables such as callaloo, peppers, and tomatoes are among crops easily cultivated and they mature in a short period of time. The produce from gardening can help to offset buying them at the market and any surplus can be sold.  Gardening will not only keep seniors busy, reducing boredom, but has the added advantage of providing them with the exercise they need to keep fit , warding off or helping to manage some lifestyle diseases,” she explained.

Fifteen social impact projects to be undertaken by 11 JN Circle Chapters across the country have each received a grant of up to $1.5 million from the JN Foundation.

JN Circle Ocho Rios, Port Maria and Gayle received grants for a total of four projects; while Westmoreland, Spanish Town, and Morant Bay received grants for two projects each, and Mandeville, Junction, Lucea and Santa Cruz were each awarded grants for single initiatives. 

Claudine Allen, general manager, JN Foundation, explained that the projects were selected based on defined set of criteria to include the innovativeness, impact, feasibility and sustainability of projects, as well as the extent to which the groups collaborate with others within the JN Circle network and external partners to implement the initiatives.

“In selecting the successful applicant, we looked at the originality and creativity in addressing societal or community challenges. We also looked at the expected outcomes and the potential to create positive change. The groups were also required to present a realistic and achievable plan, as well as show evidence of long-term viability and potential for ongoing impact beyond the grant period. There was also a requirement for collaboration among the JN Circle Network or external partners,” she outlined.

“I am happy for all of you because I know the journey, and I want to say congratulations… because the application process demanded you package your ideas according to world class standards. Well done to all of you,” she told Circle members at a recent luncheon in St Ann where the awards were announced.

The JN Circle is a transnational network of JN members and customers who, by leveraging the JN network, serve as advocates and community change agents to improve their own lives and positively impact their communities. There are some 16 JN Circle Chapters spread across all parishes across Jamaica. The network also thrives in Toronto, Canada and London, England. 

Pixley Irons, president, JN Circle Ocho Rios, Port Maria and Gayle, whose Chapter received four grants, said his group is passionate about education and submitted proposals geared towards addressing education challenges in his locale.

“We submitted proposals for a rainwater harvesting system for Ferncourt High School; repairs to be done on Gayle Primary Reading Room; Jeffrey Town Basic School had asked us for some appliances; and the refurbishing of the Clapham Basic School. We asked members of our Circle to ask around the communities to see what projects were there that we could undertake. When we got the feedback, we got more projects than we could assist and we shortlisted these,” he outlined.

“There are many things that need to be done but we placed special emphasis on education because it is important. We need our students to be comfortable in their environment. All our projects surround educational institutions, and we are pleased that we were able to submit these projects and they qualified for a grant from the JN Foundation,” he added.

Among the other projects to benefit from individual grants were JN Circle Port Antonio to furnish the Port Antonio Women’s Centre; JN Circle Mandeville to install a solar water heating system for a homeless shelter in Manchester and JN Circle Junction to introduce a reading programme in Alligator Pond, Manchester.

JN Circle Westmoreland also received funding to refurbish the Paul Island Basic School and to upgrade the Hatfield Basic School in the parish; JN Circle Spanish Town received funding for an environment project targeted to youth in Spanish Town, St Catherine, and JN Circle Morant Bay were presented with funds for a Digital Access Project for the St Thomas Parish Library and to establish a playground at the Chapel Hill Basic School. JN Circle Lucea will use its funds for the Maryland Basic School Playground, and JN Circle Santa Cruz will develop a playground at the Northampton Basic School so that the institution can receive certification from the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). The Santa Cruz Circle will also upgrade the Goshen Primary School so it can be certified by the ECC.

Photo Caption: Top of the Class recipients of the JN Foundation Scholarship Programme, Gabrielle Numa (second left at front) of Campion College and Taevion Morgan (second right at front) take a group photo with JN Group management team and their parents.

Five outstanding JN Scholars who performed exceptionally well at the end of the academic year 2022-2023 were celebrated by the JN Foundation, at a luncheon dubbed ‘Top of the Class’, recently at The Jamaica National Group’s Corporate Office on Oxford Road in Kingston.

JN Foundation awards outstanding students who performed admirably in the grade six (PEP Exams) with annual grants valued at $50,000 for the first five years of secondary study, on the condition that they maintain set academic performance standards.

Miss Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation notes the Foundation aims to add value for scholars.

“The JN Foundation will ensure that your journey with us is rewarding, and one of the things we will focus on is the building of character by helping you to show up in spaces with confidence and to articulate and present yourself well,” she informed students at the luncheon with guests such as the chairman of the JN Foundation, Parris Lyew-Ayee; the JN Group chief executive officer, Earl Jarrett and other JN senior managers and parents.

The students were commended by Mr Jarrett, who encouraged them to be all-rounders and to get involved in extracurricular activities.

“Seek to find opportunities where you can be part of a team, whether in sports or volunteering, in areas that support your ambitions. These are important things that we should do, as one needs to be able to share,” he pointed out.

Mr Jarrett urged the students to adopt good values such as dependability, authenticity, respect, and transparency, which he said are the values that The Jamaica National Group embraces.

“They are simple words, but if you live them every day, it will make a big difference,” he pointed out.

Jermaine Nairne, senior manager, Talent Performance and Culture at The Jamaica National Group, congratulated the students and encouraged them to make the most of their high school years.

“In making the most of your journey, ensure that you demonstrate humanity. So, one of the repeaters of sustained success is your emotional intelligence. Ensure that you are deliberate about working on your emotional intelligence, and that is your awareness of self, management of self and how you manage your relationships with others,” he advised.

Shereen Jones, assistant general manager, and chief information officer at The Jamaica National Group, commended the students and encouraged them to focus on being well-rounded individuals.

“The academics demonstrate your capacity to do well, and it will get you into a job, but the truth of the matter is that your growth potential, how far you will go, and  how well you succeed are going to be dependent on a number of things we call the soft skills, and how rounded you are is going to depend on how well you work with others,” she said.

Lead, Youth and Education Programmes at the JN Foundation, Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, said the ‘Top-of-the-Class’ initiative was conceptualised to encourage the JN Scholars and their parents to continue to aim for and to celebrate success.

“We are looking forward to greater things in 2024, as we seek to interact more with our scholars,” she said, noting that there will be initiatives such as mentorship opportunities and financial literacy activities for the JN scholars.

Photo Caption: Parris Lyew-Ayee (left), chairman of the JN Foundation presents Ky-Lee Dyce with her certificate at the JN Foundations PEP Scholarship Awards ceremony, recently.

Twelve-Year-old Ky-Lee Dyce, JN Scholarship recipient for the parish of St Thomas is an avid reader, a hobby she attributes to her success in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams.

“She will read any book she can find, but she especially loves her Bible! “You always see her with her Bible!” shared Anna Dyce, Ky-Lee’s grandmother.

“Even when she is studying, she will study for a while and then take a break to read her Bible,” she informed.

Ky-Lee’s love for the Bible is not unusual, said her grandmother, as she was brought up in the church and is a member of the Church of God (Seventh Day), White Horses where her pastor, O’Dean Bailey, speaks highly of her. Mrs Dyce said the family places emphasis on being spiritually focused and credits hard work and prayer to Ky-Lee’s success.

The former student of White Horses Primary and Infant School in St Thomas scored 341.7 in the PEP Exams to gain a place at Campion College, the first school of choice. She was also awarded the JN PEP Scholarship for the parish of St Thomas.

Mrs Dyce describes her as a focused and disciplined child who never gives her any trouble. “When I heard that Ky-Lee was getting the award [JN Scholarship], I was excited! I know she likes to do her work. She is always on top of her schoolwork,” her grandmother shared beaming with pride.

“When she comes home from school, the first thing she does is bathe, get something to eat and go straight to doing her homework,” she shared.

Ky-Lee expressed how happy she was that her hard work and determination had borne fruit.

“When I found out I got this scholarship, I felt this incredible wave of relief, joy and accomplishment all at once and I couldn’t have been happier,” she said.

Described as passionate, curious, and reliable, by her grandmother, Ky-Lee is dedicated to achieving her goals and making her family proud. In preparation for school each morning, she wakes up at 3:30 a.m. and is on the bus to school by 5:15 a.m. That may be early for many youngsters, but Ky-Lee is a determined young lady who says she sees the benefit in making the journey from St. Thomas to Campion College.

“She has a good group of friends who sit together on their laptops and encourage each other to do their work,” said Mrs Dyce.

Mother, Kimiella Moore, shared that she is incredibly proud of her daughter. “Her remarkable achievements come as no surprise considering her innate ability for independent learning.”

Her father, Kerwayne Dyce, also expressed immense pride for her achievements, said, “The school scholarship bestowed upon my daughter is a testament to her unwavering commitment and incredible potential. It fills my heart with immeasurable pride and joy.”

She has a strong circle of support as along with her grandmother and parents, her aunt, Devita Dyce takes pride in helping her with her homework and motivates her to study hard.

The future software engineer believes that if she continues to work hard, she will achieve her goals.

Primary school teacher, Sharlene McDonald, who taught young Ky-Lee in grades five and six at White Horses Primary and Infant, described her as a dedicated and disciplined student.

“Ky-Lee has a great passion for knowledge. She was a role model to her peers and was elected head girl at White Horses Primary and Infant School. She was a jovial student and enjoyed doing her schoolwork but never missed out on an opportunity to run and play with her peers,” she fondly remembered her student.

“She wasn’t the best runner though”, she laughed, “because each time she went outside to run and play with friends I could always look for them to be carrying her back in their arms saying she fell.

Her former teacher continued: “She loved to debate and would always refer to the Bible whenever arguing a point. She is a ‘Bible girl’ – always saying something about her Bible. I know she will go on to do great things because of her passion for knowledge.”

The JN Foundation PEP scholarship and grants are given to students who display academic prowess, leadership potential, and a commitment to excellence – qualities that Ky-Lee has exemplified throughout her educational journey.

Since 1983, The Jamaica National Group has been supporting the educational pursuits of hundreds of young people at both the secondary and tertiary levels through the scholarship programme.

Photo Caption: Parris Lyew-Ayee (left), chairman of the JN Foundation presents Abigail Richards with a certificate at the awards at the 40^th JN Scholarship Awards ceremony held at the Summit in New Kingston in November.

Damion Richards is bursting with pride and joy that his firstborn, Abigail, is walking in her purpose and excelling by copping the JN Primary Exit Profile (PEP) scholarship for St Catherine and scoring high to secure a spot at Campion College, her first school of choice.

“I was very happy, as this was the only scholarship I ever applied for on behalf of my daughter and was successful with. Somehow, I knew it would have come through, and when I got the call, I was overjoyed,” he shared after it was communicated to him that his daughter received the JN parish scholarship for St Catherine.

Abigail was one of 37 students awarded the five-year prize for 2023 at the 40^th JN Scholarship Awards ceremony held at the Summit (formerly Knutsford Court Hotel) in New Kingston in November.

“She is discipline, creative and focused. All that attributes make her successful in all that she does,” he said making reference as to why he thinks she is walking in her purpose.

Mr Richards said his daughter, who attended Kensington Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, was always a high achiever, and he knew she was destined for greatness.

“She has been a high achieving student since grade one and up to grade six, this trend has continued, and I am happy that JN assisted in rewarding her hard work,” he said, noting that her preparations involved doing extra lessons and practice questions from previous PEP exams.

For Abigail, the scholarship is a feather in her cap and a pleasant surprise, as she had no idea her parents had applied for the scholarship.

For the avid reader who enjoys fiction, such as ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and The Land of Stories, a series of children’s fiction, adventure and fantasy books, her words of encouragement to other students are to read over their notes and use practice papers.

“I also ensured that I did the homework that my teacher gave me and used the past papers to assist me in my studies,” she said.

While unsure what career path she will take when she gets older, the 12-year-old now enjoys drawing, especially anime, hand-drawn and computer-generated animation, which she does during her personal time.

“I love drawing because you can bring your imagination to life,” she explained. She also loves to edit videos, a self-taught hobby which she took up two years ago.

Marvan Morgan-Harris, a grade six teacher at Kensington Primary School who taught Abigail, is thrilled with her success.

“She made me feel proud. She was the only from my class who passed for Campion College. I was so proud of her, but I knew she could have done it,” she said.

Mrs Morgan-Harris described her as a quiet, well-groomed, and excellent child who never gave any trouble while in class.

“She was a focused student. She was determined, and whenever she gets a task, she ensures that it was done well,” she shared. “She was different.  Her parents did a good job in raising her. She is very respectful in her speech and mannerism,” she said.

Photo Caption: Claudine Allen (left), general manager of the JN Foundation presents Zhane’ Harrison with a certificate at the at the 40^th JN Scholarship Awards ceremony held at the Summit (formerly Knutsford Court Hotel) in New Kingston in November.

One may be surprised to know that Zhane’ Harrison, the 2023 JN Foundation Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Scholarship recipient for Manchester, is no bookworm. Although the 12-year-old performs well academically, her passion lies in drawing, writing poetry and playing video games. And, the mathematics ‘whiz kid’ also believes in balancing her studies with lots of fun time.

“A lot of children would go to extra lessons as part of their preparation for the PEP exams. I signed her up, but she didn’t go and was not interested in that. She studies on her own. I was worried because I was not seeing her study, but she would often go to her room and lock away,” her mother, Janice Ann-Marie Clarke, explained.

Ms Clarke, however, took comfort in the knowledge that her daughter was a consistent high achiever and had been excelling in her studies since kindergarten.  So confident was she in her ability that when her cousin, who resides overseas, encouraged her to apply for the JN Foundation PEP scholarship, she applied before even receiving the results of the exams.

When the results arrived, as predicted, Zhane’ had done exceptionally well, scoring 351 overall in the exams and securing a spot at the first school of her choice, Manchester High School.

Spilling a little about her secret to success, Zhane’ explained that she relied on a lot of practice papers to help prepare her for the exams, along with educational videos to help with her studying.

“Sometimes I watched videos on the topics that we were studying, and that helped a lot in my preparation,” said the young freestyle artist.

The former head girl at El Instituto de Mandevilla, a preparatory school, said that she was pleasantly surprised when her mother told her she was awarded the JN PEP Scholarship for the parish of Manchester. She was one of 37 students awarded the five-year prize for 2023 at the 40^th JN Scholarship Awards ceremony held at the Summit (formerly Knutsford Court Hotel) in New Kingston in November.

Zhane’ expressed gratitude for the scholarship, which she said would assist financially. “I’m grateful for the scholarship. It was a big surprise, and I am happy to receive it,” she said.

An aspiring paediatrician, Zhane’s goal is to help heal children when she grows older. Her desire was inspired by her own doctor. “She (Zhane’s doctor) works really well with children, and she inspires me to really want to become a doctor as well,” she said.

The secret to success is the ability to balance, the soft-spoken cat lover believes, and her advice to other students is to strive towards achieving parity between one’s academics and personal passions. “Do not overwork yourself and pace yourself,” she advised.

Her mother also has some advice for parents. She underscores the importance of supporting children on their educational journeys, relying on her own experience with her only child to bring home the point.

“I just made sure she goes to school. If she is absent from school due to illness, I would get the work and have her do it. I made sure she was up to date and had the necessary resources. I must give God thanks,” she said with gratitude.

She continued: “Be there for them. Just support them. Don’t be too anxious about the exams. Ensure that they also get time for themselves to relax. They can’t be in the book 24/7,” she said.

Despite being a single mother, Ms Clarke informed that Zhane’ has a village supporting her, which includes her extended family members who are always there to encourage her.

Kezia Fullerton, a sixth-grade teacher at El Instituto de Mandevilla, who taught Zhane’ in grades five and six, said that she was one of her best students.

“She was very studious, thorough, and quiet. She is a very good leader, and she was particularly strong in mathematics and language arts,” she said as she noted that she was not surprised at her performance in the PEP exams.