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Photo Caption: JN PEP Scholarship recipients take a group photo after the awards ceremony at The Summit in Kingston on Sunday, November 12.

In recognition of 40 years of providing students and families with financial support for academic achievement, the JN Foundation and JN Money presented 47 scholarships and grants to students who excelled in the 2023 Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

The awards presentation took place on Sunday, November 11 at The Summit in Kingston. Seventeen five-year parish and county scholarships, and 10 grants by JN Money were presented to students across the country, while 20 five-year scholarships were also awarded to children of employees of The Jamaica National Group.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said that this year’s awards is special, given that it’s the organisation’s 40^th year of awarding academic achievement of the nation’s children.

“Such a longstanding tradition of supporting education and investing in the future of deserving young people is a testament to the values and commitment of The Jamaica National Group,” she said.

“We’ve not just given scholarships; we’ve invested in the potential of young minds. We’ve recognised the talents, ambitions, and dreams of countless individuals, and we’ve helped them take the first steps towards a better future,” she said.

Miss Allen noted that since 1983, The Jamaica National Group has been supporting the educational pursuits of hundreds of young people at both secondary and tertiary levels, many of whom have gone on to make their mark in society.

One such recipient is Dr Danielle Twiddle, who received a scholarship while attending Immaculate High School. She said the scholarship was helpful.

“It didn’t only help me monetarily but allowed my parents to have less on their plate to be able to help me, but I also met a few friends at the scholarship ceremony who I’m still in touch with today,” she said.

She noted that aside from the scholarship, The Jamaica National Group also provided other opportunities such as summer employment where she worked in the marketing department, which she said provided learning opportunities.

“It’s an honor being a recipient because it was a great assistance to me, and I had a standard to uphold academically. I would say work hard, have fun during your journey and never forget that no man is an island,” she said, encouraging the new recipients.

This year’s awards function was held under the theme ‘Pursuing Excellence, Honouring Purpose’ and theguest speaker will be Tishauna Mullings, development practitioner, social entrepreneur and Chevening scholar.

Over the past 40 years, The Jamaica National Group has provided financial support for other educational initiatives, such as The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee competition and invested millions in the educational transformation initiative, Centres of Excellence and iLead programmes- both targeted at improving leadership in rural-based underperforming schools.

Since 2001, the organisation has maintained a financial literacy programme, JN Bank Easi Save, at the basic, primary, and secondary levels, to foster sound money management practices among children.

Photo Caption: Ronaldhino McLean (second from right), Head Boy of Campion College, presents Claudine Allen (third from left), general manager, JN Foundation with the book he co-authored, ‘What Makes Children Fly?’ during a courtesy call by the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE) on the JN Foundation at the JN Corporate Office in September. Ronaldhino was a member of the team coached by JADE that won the Rollins College Great Debate in the United States in October 2022. Also sharing in the exchange were (from left) Chevanese Peters, programme coordinator, JN Foundation; Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, youth and education programmes lead, JN Foundation; and Germaine Barrett, founder and executive director of JADE

Most people hear of debates during elections or while pursuing academic disciplines such as law. But imagine having your first debate while still in primary school? That was the situation for Ronaldhino McLean who got his first taste of the art at age eight while in grade three, competing against older children in grade six.

“I had to be standing on chairs so I could be at the height of the lectern in front of me,” shared Ronaldhino who is arguably now hooked to the activity, with years of experience and accolades to his name.

Ronaldhino, the current Head Boy of Campion College, and a member of the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE) Secondary Level Gold Club, was part of the debating team, coached by JADE, which won the Rollins College Great Debate in the United States in October 2022. It was his second international tournament, but his skills and contribution silenced a room that was earlier booing him and his peers. The Rollins College Great Debate is a prestigious debating competition that facilitates international exchanges with debating societies from around the world.

Ronaldhino said to prepare for that competition the team had to conduct extensive research on topics that didn’t necessarily concern them, such as US politics, US social issues, ethics, philosophy and abortion. He said that made winning more rewarding. “We had to look at different perspectives and views and that’s part of what you get and learn from debating,” he said while reflecting on the experience.

The Head Boy believes his debating and public speaking skills were enhanced by the many arguments and discussions shared with friends and family members over the years. He said his passion for the activity also extends beyond school because when he’s not debating, he’s at home watching debates on YouTube.

Ronaldhino said he is encouraging more students to explore debating, especially as JADE pushes to entrench the activity in local school curricula. For Ronaldhino, debating is tied to who we are as a people and not only targeted to the ‘most-abled’ students. He said while the activity isn’t for everyone, it encourages participants to critically think and apply knowledge and understanding to issues under pressure.

“I really wish we could break away from the notion that debating is just this activity that intellectuals do. It’s something we engage in everyday and we use it in all facets of our lives. We debate with our parents and friends all the time. We debate in music,” he reasoned.

During National Debaters Week 2023, Ronaldhino assumed the role of convenor for the Zone A debates held at his school and even without his participation, Campion’s Debating Society, of which he’s also the president, emerged on top. Ronaldhino said the club currently has between 50 and 60 active members and hopes it will be a model for other schools and communities looking to get more young people interested in the activity.

“Debating can be fun, debating can teach, it can help with socialising and conflict resolution, but students will have to engage with the opportunities that exist. I’m encouraging students to join their debating societies and push their faculty supervisors to get their schools signed up for competitions. Let’s work together to make debating as widely recognised as any other sport in our schools,” he urged.

Now in his final year of high school, Ronaldhino hopes to study political science and economics at University. Besides his debating fame, he’s also the published co-author of the book titled, ‘What Makes Children Fly?’. The book, launched in 2021, was written in collaboration with childcare expert, Karlene Rickard, for use as a learning and development tool for children, their parents, teachers, and mentors.

In September, he presented a copy of the book to Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation at the JN Group Corporate Office in New Kingston. The exchange formed part of JADE’s courtesy call on the JN Foundation, which had sponsored their trip to the Rollins College Debate in 2022.

“There is no doubt that debating is an impactful tool in and out of the classroom and we at the JN Foundation are pleased to support the work of JADE in creating more opportunities for our students to build on their critical thinking and public speaking skills,” an impressed Ms Allen remarked as she accepted the book. “Debating really prepares you for life.”

Photo Caption: Tishauna Mullings (left) development practitioner, social innovator and entrepreneur who operates NexxStepp Personal Development Services and Inspirational Products, interacts with Demorah Robinson, JN Scholar, during the JN Foundation PEP Scholarship Awards ceremony where she addressed the JN Scholars under the theme “Pursuing Excellence, Honouring Purpose.”  The event was held at the Summit on November 12, in recognition of Youth Month.  Thirty-seven students who performed outstandingly in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams, were awarded five-year scholarships by the JN Foundation and an additional 10 students were offered grants by JN Money, a member company of The Jamaica National Group. 

Nearly 50 JN Scholars were inspired by Chevening Scholar and life coach, Tishauna Mullings, to reach for the highest peak in their educational endeavours. She encouraged them to do so while underscoring the potential of each student.

Ms Mullings was the guest speaker at the JN Foundation PEP Scholarship Awards ceremony where she addressed the JN Scholars under the theme “Pursuing Excellence, Honouring Purpose.”  The event was held at the Summit on November 12, in recognition of Youth Month.

“Excellence is pursuing the highest standard. Always strive for a higher version of yourself.  There is that seed of greatness inside every person.,” said Ms Mullings, who is also a development practitioner and entrepreneur who operates NexxStepp Personal Development Services and Inspirational Products.

“You are living in an age where you have a lot of resources. Continuously seek personal growth. There are people who are willing to mentor you and guide you,” she advised.

Thirty-seven recipients, who performed outstandingly in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams, were awarded five-year scholarships by the JN Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Jamaica National Group. Of the awardees, one is from each parish and county while 20 are children of employees of The Jamaica National Group. An additional 10 students were offered grants by JN Money, a member company of The Jamaica National Group.  The occasion marked the 40th year of the scholarship awards.

Referencing her own academic journey, Ms Mullings encouraged the young JN Scholars to not only  strive for academic excellence but  to also embrace a deeper sense of purpose to propel themselves forward.

Using ‘eagle’ and ‘purpose’ to form acrostics, Ms Mullings crafted an inspirational narrative, weaving in the wisdom of pursuing excellence, possessing ambition, embracing growth, accepting leadership opportunities, and being empowered into the acrostic, ‘eagle.’  She further spurred the scholars to be passionate about what they undertake, embrace their uniqueness, to be resilient, prioritise goals that align with their purpose, be optimistic, be of service and empowered.

“Think about where you want to be ultimately and how what you are doing now will contribute that. Maintain a positive outlook and be of service. Make sure you give back and serve others around you. See how you can help with something.”

“Make sure you are well rounded.  Set goals that align with your purpose,” she said.

Ms Mullings received the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Jamaica 55 for commendable work in Youth Service in 2017 and the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in 2015. She was also a Young Achiever recipient of the Gordon “Butch” Stewart Community Award in 2014, and in 2016, served as a delegate for Barak Obama’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative. She is also an alum of the JN Foundation’s Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) where she received support in 2018 to develop her enterprise, NexxStepp Personal Development Services and Inspirational Products.

Since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in 1983, hundreds of students, have benefitted from financial assistance to pursue their secondary education. This year, 370 scholarship applications were received.

As part of the eligibility for the scholarship, the child or parent is required to be a member, customer, or client of The Jamaica National Group for at least a year, while JN Group employees, whose children achieved a placement score of 288 or more, were invited to apply for the scholarship.

This year’s scholarship awardees are in addition to approximately 130 JN Scholars, who are at various stages in their five-year secondary scholarship award, and who have had their scholarship renewed for the new school year.

Photo Caption: JN PEP Scholarship recipients take a group photo after the awards ceremony at The Summit in Kingston on Sunday, November 12.

Twelve-year-old Mykah Roberts, a first form student at Clarendon College, strutted proudly to the podium as he collected his scholarship award. He was among 37 students who have been named JN Scholars.

He and the 36 other young high achievers were handed their awards by the JN Foundation for their outstanding performances in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) for 2023 on Sunday, November 12, at the Summit, formerly the Knutsford Court Hotel, in New Kingston.

“I’m so happy to be awarded this scholarship. It was hard work preparing for the exams, but the learning was fun,” the aspiring zoologist said. 

Tishauna Mullings, a development practitioner, and social entrepreneur was the guest speaker at the function and told the scholars that there is a seed of greatness in each of them. She also advised them of the ‘Eagle antidotes’, or ways of pursuing excellence and honouring their purpose.

“Scholars, I want you to strive for excellence,” she said. The next letter in this antidote is ambition; think about where you want to be ultimately, and what you are doing now will contribute to that.”

The other areas she mentioned include growth, assuming leadership roles, prioritizing their goals and empowering themselves.

Held under the theme ‘Pursuing Excellence, Honouring Purpose’, Parris Lyew-Ayee, chairman of the JN Foundation, urged the recipients to pursue their dreams.

“Remember that you have a unique opportunity to pursue your dreams and reach your full potential. Use this opportunity wisely, stay focused, and continue to excel in your academic and personal endeavours. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come your way, for they will help you grow and develop into a stronger, more confident individual,” he charged.

Mr Lyew-Ayee disclosed that since 1983, The Jamaica National Group has been supporting the educational pursuits of hundreds of young people at both the secondary and tertiary levels.

“This year’s reception is extra special as we are celebrating 40 years since establishing this scholarship programme. Imagine four decades of changing lives and four generations of hope for a brighter future. It’s a momentous occasion that speaks volumes about our dedication to education and empowerment,” he said.

Mr Lyew-Ayee informed that The Jamaica National Group’s commitment to education has gone beyond monetary assistance.

“It’s about nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, individuals who will shape our world with their knowledge, skills, and vision. As we celebrate 40 years, we take pride in being a part of this journey,” he said.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, disclosed that the scholarship selection was very competitive, with close to 400 applications received islandwide.

“Each of you has demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience, and passion, and it is with pleasure that we acknowledge your hard work,” she said.

A total of 37 students received five-year scholarships, while 10 students received one-time grants. Of the 37, three are for the top performing applicants from each county and 14 are for the top performing applicants from each parish. The remaining 20 were awarded to children of employees of The Jamaica National Group.

Over the past 40 years, The Jamaica National Group has provided financial support for other educational and youth development initiatives, such as child month initiatives undertaken by the National Child Month Committee and the Ministry of Education and Youth’s National Youth month activities.

The JN Foundation has also invested millions in educational transformation initiatives such as the Centres of Excellence and iLead programmes- both targeted at improving leadership in rural-based underperforming schools.

Photo Caption: Claudine Allen (third right in back row), general manager of the JN Foundation and Parris Lyew-Ayee (second right in back row), chairman of the JN Foundation take a group photo with the 2022 JN Foundation PEP Scholarship recipients at last’s year’s ceremony.

For the past 40 years, the JN Group has been assisting students and families with financial support for academic achievement. Spearheaded by their philanthropic arm, the JN Foundation, the Group will be presenting 47 scholarships and grants to students who excelled in the 2023 Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

The awards presentation will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2023. A total of 37 students will receive five-year scholarships while 10 students will receive one-time grants. Of the 37, three are for the top performing applicants from each county and 14 are for the top performing applicants from each parish. The remaining 20 will be awarded to children of employees of The Jamaica National Group.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said that this year’s awards will be special, given that it’s the organisation’s 40^th year of awarding academic achievement of the nation’s children.

“Such a longstanding tradition of supporting education and investing in the future of deserving young people is a testament to the values and commitment of The Jamaica National Group,” she said.

“We’ve not just given scholarships; we’ve invested in the potential of young minds. We’ve recognised the talents, ambitions, and dreams of countless individuals, and we’ve helped them take the first steps towards a better future,” she said.

Miss Allen noted that since 1983, The Jamaica National Group has been supporting the educational pursuits of hundreds of young people at both secondary and tertiary levels, many of whom have gone on to make their mark in society.

One such recipient is Dr Danielle Twiddle, who received a scholarship while attending Immaculate High School from 2008 to 2012. She said the scholarship was very helpful.

“It didn’t only help me monetarily but allowed my parents to have less on their plate to be able to help me, but I also met a few friends at the scholarship ceremony who I’m still in touch with today,” she said.

She noted that aside from the scholarship, The Jamaica National Group also provided other opportunities such as summer employment where she worked in the marketing department, which she said provided learning opportunities.

“It’s an honor being a recipient because it was a great assistance to me, and I had a standard to uphold academically. To the new JN Scholars, I would say work hard, have fun during your journey and never forget that no man is an island,” she said.

This year’s awards function will be held under the theme ‘Pursuing Excellence, Honouring Purpose’ and theguest speaker will be Tishauna Mullings, development practitioner, social entrepreneur and Chevening scholar.

Over the past 40 years, The Jamaica National Group has provided financial support for other educational and youth development initiatives, such as: The Gleaner’s Children’s Own Spelling Bee competition; child month initiatives undertaken by the National Child Month Committee;the Ministry of Education and Youth’s National Youth month activities.

The JN Foundation has also invested millions in the educational transformation initiatives such as the Centres of Excellence and iLead programmes- both targeted at improving leadership in rural-based underperforming schools.

Since 2001, the organisation has maintained a financial literacy programme, JN School Savers Programme, at the basic, primary, and secondary levels, to foster sound money management practices among children and since 2013 launched the JN Wise Aspiring Youth Programme, JN WAY, which promotes financial literacy and personal development skills for tertiary students and young adults.

Photo Caption: Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, youth and education programmes lead at the JN Foundation

Although it’s advisable for young adults to avoid debt, Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, youth and education programmes lead at the JN Foundation, said if they must borrow, they should be smart and intentional about how they borrow. She gave the advice recently in observation of ‘Get Smart About Credit Day’.

‘Get Smart About Credit Day’, observed on October 19, is an initiative adopted from the American Bankers’ Association (ABA) Foundation.

Mrs Wright Vaughn says when borrowing, young people must exercise caution and be very vigilant about managing debt. She noted that a properly managed loan can actually provide opportunities to improve one’s financial future.

“You can use credit to improve several areas of your life,” she said while noting that there are several loan options targeting different people.

She said young people should try to avoid taking on multiple loans as this may damage their financial situation, rather than help it. She also cautioned against using certain loans for lifestyle situations like parties, which provide no long-term financial benefit.

“We want young adults to think about their long-term goals, such as becoming a homeowner. It’s probably not wise for you to take out a loan to attend a party at this time, unless you can definitely afford to or if you are also saving which we also do encourage, because saving can be a backbone for your loan engagement and your loan conversations,” she said.

Mrs Wright Vaughn said one of the most important things people should consider when seeking a loan is what they have to lose, in the event they cannot repay. “As young people, sometimes we don’t have the assets, or security to back up a loan, and so an unsecured loan may be the better option. A lot of facilities will encourage unsecured loans to young people because they are easier to access,” she said.

She also recommended that people prepare a budget before taking on any loan, as they can negatively affect credit worthiness if they go “bad.”

While the concept of credit scores is still relatively new in Jamaica, it’s not novel and a bad credit score can impact an individual’s borrowing power and future business with other organisations. There are currently three credit bureaus in Jamaica and Jamaicans can access one free credit report each year.

“You can’t be earning, for argument’s sake, J$100,000 monthly and you’re paying back J$60,000 for one particular loan, while also having other things like a student loan or other family members to take care of,” she stressed.

She also urged people to not shy away from asking the ‘hard and fast’ questions before making a decision on any loan facility.

“It doesn’t matter if it seems like a weird question or a hard question. You may want to ask about interest rates if you’re not a numbers person, and you also want to look at the penalties for late or even early payments,” she noted.

The JN Foundation youth and education programmes lead said research is important, particularly for first time loan applicants. This, she said, will ensure people don’t find themselves paying more than they should, advising that it’s good to shop around. She said it’s also wise to read the fine print before signing a document.  

“You’ll want to ensure that there’s no penalty that’s going to affect any other areas of your life. Ensure that when you’re signing a particular document, it’s not saying that in the event something happens to you, there’s no insurance. All of these things must be a part of the conversation that you are having,” she warned.

‘Get Smart About Credit Day’ is celebrated on the third Thursday in October each year in the United States. The annual initiative by the ABA Foundation is aimed at pushing conversations and tips to guide youth towards better credit and savings habits. The day falls in line with the work of the JN Foundation, which has also been providing information, training, and mentorship to youth to help them make better financial decisions.

Thirty-five Jamaican schools and sporting associations were the recipients of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) courtesy of Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB), a US-based non-profit organisation formed by a group of Jamaicans living in the United States.

The presentations were made to the institutions recently at a handover ceremony at the University of Technology, Jamaica in Papine, St Andrew.

Irwine Clare, founder of Team Jamaica Bickle, said, while making the presentations to the schools, that Jamaican athletes have represented the country at the highest level and should be supported.

“Our athletes have demonstrated to us their professionalism and discipline towards their craft. Therefore, as supporters of what they do, we have to step up our game. So, every year, we raise the bar,” he said of Team Jamaica Bickle.

“It is important that we invest in our youth, especially in sports, as one of the avenues for a youngster to self-actualise, because when we provide opportunities like that, it means they are steered away from other situations,” he pointed out as he reenforced his commitment to supporting student athletes.

Keith Wellington, president of Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), in expressing gratitude on behalf of the institutions, cautioned the schools not to keep the machines locked away, but that they should be kept close by during play in case of emergencies.

“On behalf of ISSA and all our schools, I want to say thank you to Team Jamaica Bickle and all its partners, including [The] Jamaica National Group, and all alumni associations and members of the diaspora who have made this effort to make this contribution,” he said.

Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, also expressed gratitude to Team Jamaica Bickle for supporting physical education in schools.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the commendable effort put forth to support physical education and sports. Today, we gather to express our gratitude and appreciation to Team Jamaica Bickle for their invaluable contributions to our educational institutions,” she said.

Omar Wright, lead, Environment and Community Development Programmes at the JN Foundation, said that the Jamaica National Group was happy to partner with Team Jamaica Bickle.

“Jamaica National is committed to the wellbeing of our nation’s children and our athletes who represent us on the world stage. We recognise the importance of investing in the safety and health of our children, and through this partnership, we signal our commitment to corporate social responsibility by creating places and environments where our youth can be safe,” he said.

The Team Jamaica Bickle Defibrillator in Schools programme began in 2014 after the loss of St Jago High School student Cavahn McKenzie during a cross-country meet in Tobago. It spurred the entity into action as it realised that there was a need to have emergency resources readily available to schools, especially at sporting events.

Since 2014, the organisation has donated more than 100 AED units in schools and trained over 400 members of staff.

Photo Caption: Camille McLeish (right), analyst, innovation and hospitality at the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)makes a point to (from left), Stephen Bennette, chief executive officer of Rumcast; Lori-Rene, chief executive officer of Monis Voice and Rose Miller, manager, Strategic Empowerment at the JN Foundation. They were attending the capacity building training workshop organised by the JN Foundation in collaboration with the TEF.

Thirty-five artisans who will operate shops in the Artisan Village at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny were exposed to capacity building training through workshops organised by the JN Financial Academy, in collaboration with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Under the theme, ‘Going for Growth’, the workshops were held in Kingston and Falmouth on September 20 and 22. The artisans were exposed to brand development, product management and customer insights; leadership skills, pricing, and record keeping; as well as personal financial management training. Follow up sessions are to be held virtually, to assess impact and provide additional coaching.  

Rose Miller, manager, strategic empowerment programmes at the JN Foundation, said the objective was to expose the artisans to empowering material relevant to the growth and development of their enterprises. The focal areas chosen were identified by the artisans themselves based on an assessment survey conducted prior to the sessions.

The workshops also sought to raise participants’ awareness of the importance of financial education, discussed proven money management skills, such as budgeting and highlighted the importance of capturing, analyzing and utilizing data to create or improve products and services. The application of customer insights and analysis was also explored as a useful tactic in efforts to enhance customer experience.

“We exposed the artisans to practical ways of positioning their business for growth through the development of a strong brand and effective marketing utilizing mediums such as social media and other online platforms.  Participants were guided as they spent time creating their personal budgets, engaged in a pricing exercise, and creating the ideal persona for their products and services.  At the end of the workshops, they signalled their intention to adopt several of the habits learned, which will drive business success, by signing to My Personal Commitments,” Mrs. Miller disclosed.

Tarik Henry, sculpture artist from the Mighty Gully Youth Project in St. Catherine, described the workshop as very useful and informative.

“I learned a lot. It is a good experience. I have never heard some of this information before such as how to budget and manage the finances of the business. I’m now more equipped in terms of how to manage the finances of my business and how to practice good record keeping.”

Kemoy Morgan, chief executive officer of Purple Jade, which specialises in handmade jewellery, said that the workshop provided information in a manner that was easy to understand.

“I am more motivated and encouraged to apply what I have learned to my business. The information was not full of jargon or technical language that I could not understand. I feel empowered to apply it and look forward to seeing growth in my business,” she said noting that she learnt a lot about branding and marketing of her business, which was presented by the JN Group Marketing department.

Loi-Rene Letts, chief executive officer of Moni Voice, which produces crotchet art, said her key take-aways were on pricing and budgeting, which was presented by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

“It was impactful. It was a lot of helpful information and take aways that I can implement in my business and actively use to improve my business,” she said, adding that she was grateful for the focus especially on how to price her products so that the business makes a profit and is not operating at a loss.

Carol Rose Brown, director, Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation at the TEF, expressed gratitude to the JN Foundation, other presenters – the JN Group Marketing department, JN Bank and the JBDC for the workshop and the knowledge imparted to the artisans.

“We want to thank them for coming to guide us and sharing this information,” she said, pointing out that the Artisan Village is scheduled to open at the end of October.

This Artisan Village is expected to become a cultural and economic landmark, offering a rich tapestry of indigenous crafts, entertainment, and opportunities for local artists.

Photo Caption: Ravonne Thomas-Matthews (right), JADE special projects manager joins Claudine Allen (third from left), general manager, JN Foundation and Germaine Barrett (third from right), JADE founder and executive director, for a photo during JADE’s courtesy call on JN Foundation at the JN Group corporate offices in September. Joining them for the photo were (from left) Matthew White, JADE Secondary Level Gold Club member and Head Boy at Cornwall College in St James; Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, JN Foundation youth and education programme lead; and Rushana Jarrett, JADE wellness manager

For many people college was an exciting time, as it afforded enough freedom to be an adult, but without the grown-up responsibilities. However, Ravonne Thomas-Matthews’ story is quite the opposite.

Ravonne, who is now part of the leadership team at the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE), said college was not a fun experience. He describes his time at The University of Technology (UTECH), Jamaica as “the harshest time” of his life, due to personal factors.

Ravonne said he struggled with depression while pursuing his studies and was only pulled away from his frustration and sadness through debating. “It is not an exaggeration to say debating changed my life,” he shared.

His first experience as a debater came in his fourth year at UTECH, at an inter-faculty debating competition but his result was disappointing. “I came dead last in that debate because debating is more than speaking lovely,” he conceded.

“I joined [the competition] just for the fun of it and I thought I did really well. I was eloquent in my speech, and everyone was clapping and cheering, and some people were encouraging me to join the debating society.”

He said that whole experience motivated him to learn more about the art of debating and to improve his skills. As a result, he began attending regular meetings of the UTECH Debating and Public Speaking Society, where he participated in team training sessions.

“I found that I enjoyed it a lot,” he said, noting also that this new-found love saw him passing up on potentially life changing opportunities.

“I remember one session there were prospective employers outside for a career workshop that was happening simultaneously with debate training, and I prioritised debate training over going outside,” he said.

Ravonne’s drive and passion for debating would later earn him a place on his school’s team to the World University Debating Championships (WUDC) in Thailand in 2020. The WUDC is regarded as the largest international debating tournament and one of the largest annual international student events.  At the competition the UTECH team was ranked the top performing institution in the Caribbean and Latin American region.

The opportunity for Ravonne to participate came through Germaine Barrett, founder and executive director of JADE.

“I just want to thank him for that opportunity. We went up against the ‘Oxfords’ and the ‘Harvards’ of the world and I got ‘myself handed to me’, but it was an absolutely amazing experience. I came back to Jamaica, and I used all that I learned abroad to win every tournament I entered after that,” he said.

His list of accomplishments includes winning the Tertiary Division of JADE’s e-Debates and the inaugural Eagles’ Debate Invitational (EDIV), both in 2020.

Ravonne said while he doesn’t get many opportunities to debate now, he still believes he is happiest when debating. “Debating is something that transcends psychology and the opportunity that debate provides is not only available at high school, nor only to head prefects. It was available to a random guy, depressed in the final year of university, and it can open doors for you.”

Ravonne was part of the JADE team that paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the JN Foundation at the JN Group Corporate Office in New Kingston in September. The meeting, which came ahead of National Debaters Week, also included Germaine Barrett and students from JADE’s Secondary Level Gold Club.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, who welcomed the JADE team and students, commended Ravonne and the other members for pursuing debating, which she said continues to “unearth serious talent.”

It’s stories like Ravonne’s which convinces the JN Foundation general manager- herself a former high school debater- that debating can be an effective intervention and educational tool.

“Debating can sharpen critical thinking skills, build characters, and foster collaboration and respect among peers. It encourages sustainable development and for us at the JN Foundation, we embrace and nurture longevity,” she opined, reflecting on her own journey at the Glenmuir High School in Clarendon.

The JN Foundation is supporting JADE in its work to entrench debating in school curricula in Jamaica. Just recently, JADE presented a strategic plan to the Ministry of Education and Youth for the phased development of the activity in secondary schools across the country. The plan is designed to help Jamaica align with other nations that have integrated debating in their school curricula.

Photo Caption: Claudine Allen (left), general manager, JN Foundation in conversation with Germaine Barrett, founder and executive director of the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE), and Rushana Jarrett, special projects manager, JADE, during a courtesy call on the JN Foundation at the JN Group’s corporate offices in New Kingston on Tuesday, September 19. The visit, which also involved members of JADE’s Gold Club in high schools across the country, follows on JADE’s most recent accomplishment. High School students coached by the association won the Rollins College Great Debate in the United States in 2022. The students’ participation was sponsored by the JN Foundation. Barett shared information about JADE’s plans for the upcoming National Debaters Week, October 7-14 which includes a launch on September 28. The association is preparing a sustainability plan to promote debates as a healthy form of public discourse and empowerment. 

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, is mooting that Jamaica can strengthen its music and culture by honing and engendering the skill of debating.

She made the remark during a courtesy call by members of the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE) on the JN Foundation at the JN Corporate Office in New Kingston on Tuesday (September 19).

Ms Allen, a trained communication specialist, called for more research to be done in the area.

“We just need to get more people to understand that it’s ok to use words to express themselves clearly without resorting to vulgarity and violence,” said Ms Allen. “You can use your words to have productive [‘clashes’] and that is something that can be very useful in helping our music and culture to be more harmonious and peaceful,” she added.

Zoning in on dancehall clashes, which is a major part of Jamaica’s culture, Ms Allen said the fundamentals of debating can help performers improve their lyrics and performances.   

“It can help with mediation, conflict resolution and even the gender issues, which are emerging out of dancehall.” she reasoned.

Germaine Barrett, founder and executive director of JADE, agreed and said he would welcome the collaboration with JN Foundation to pitch the idea to the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport “so they can see the intersectionality of what we are trying to do [with debate].”

He said his organisation is planning to lead further research to better understand how lyrics are crafted and what makes genres, such as dancehall, alluring in the Jamaican context. He added that there are also plans to launch a sustainability plan to promote debating across the country as a productive and healthy exchange.

Last year, JN Foundation sponsored the participation of a team of high school students, coached by JADE, that won the prestigious Rollins College Great Debate in the United States. One of the members from that team, Ronaldhino McLean, is among the high school students from the JADE Secondary Level Gold Club. He was also present at JN’s offices on Tuesday for the courtesy call.

The visit by JADE was also used to set the scene for National Debaters Week scheduled for October 7 to 14, as proclaimed by Governor General, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen. The week will be officially launched at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Faculty of Law on September 28.

Mr Barrett said JADE has several activities planned to commemorate the week, including a church service, zonal competitions for high schools across the island and the Caribbean Conference on Dialogue and Debate, which will be held at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

During the week, JADE will host representatives from iDebate Rwanda, who, Mr Barrett said, will be sharing their own history and culture as an organisation.

The week will culminate with the JADE ‘Peppa Pot’ event that will showcase the creative skills of members within the organisation. The full list of events can be found on JADE’s website at myjade.org.

“National Debaters Week is a concentrated national focus on debating as a tool for solving many of the social challenges that we face as a country. We tend to resort to violence when we are upset with someone and that can be solved with debate. Debate also allows us to share ideas. We want to use the week to promote the benefits of debating and debunk certain myths about this activity,” he shared.

JN Foundation has committed to supporting JADE with its week of activities and its overall mission to advance debating, public speaking and critical thinking in Jamaica. JADE, a non-governmental organisation, was established in 2014.