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Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, says the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Fintech (financial technology) has the potential to promote financial inclusion by opening access to financial services to people who have very little access.

Miss Allen made the assertion while addressing the JN Foundation virtual summer camp recently, which was held under the theme ‘Building Future FinTech Innovators: Skills for Life’.

“Here in Jamaica, while most persons will go into a bank with relative ease, it is not the case for some countries across the world and you would be surprised at how reliant people are on remote banking services,” she said.

“Think about those persons who are at work when banks are typically open. Technology has changed this by making banking services accessible anywhere, and at any time,” she added.

Expanding on the term financial inclusion, she cited the World Bank’s definition as “individuals and businesses having access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs and are delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.”

She also noted that, according to the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ), financial inclusion enables the underbanked and the unbanked to better undertake and grow business activities, save safely in the financial sector, manage risks and build financial security.

“It all boils down to helping people to access financing that will ultimately help them live better lives. They can save, invest, borrow, insure and generate wealth for themselves and their families. And, that’s a good thing for them, and for our country,” she pointed out.

This is the second year that the summer camp was being held and is powered by the JN Financial Academy, which was launched in 2022 with the aim to empower JN members to achieve financial freedom by providing information, training, and mentorship, to help them make better financial decisions.

Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, Lead, Youth and Education Programmes, JN Foundation noted that, “The key objectives of the summer camp were to introduce high school to the unique skills and attributes needed to succeed in today’s technologically advanced society especially with the changing financial sector and focused on careers and other opportunities in tech. We also sought to empower participants to seek out and build on positive contributions to technology for nation building,”.

The summer camp, which attracted some 300 participants, saw them being introduced to the key features of the new Jamaican dollar notes and the importance of the transition. A tour of the Money Museum at the BOJ was also a key feature for a selection of participants.

Presenters at the camp were Luigi Allen, customer success account manager, Microsoft, USA and former JN Foundation scholar, who spoke on his personal career journey in tech; Diamond King, youth banking officer, Youth Banking Unit, JN Bank, who showcased how the JN Group has been ‘Positioning YOUth for Financial Success’.

Danielle Mullings, software engineer and youth leader discussed how youth can align technology to their own success through strategic planning, volunteering and networking and Garvin Grandison, manager, regulatory reporting, JN Bank, shared an ‘Introduction to Financial Planning’.

Jaymeon Jones, a Web 3 Enthusiast, marketer and chief executive officer of Yaad Labs, spoke on his journey in ‘Tech Entrepreneurship’ which included the financial and mental pros and cons and Garfield Rodriquez, Cyber Security Analyst, JN Group presented on ‘Cyber Security: Staying Safe Online’.

Policymakers and implementers of social intervention programmes targeted at men and boys are being advised to adopt more innovative ways to reach the male population.

The recommendation came from Reverend Jayson Downer, minister, author and radio host, and Dr Steffon Campbell, published author, and lecturer and coordinator of the journalism programme at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC)—UWI.

They were guests on the JN Circle Live Class discussing the topic, ‘From Boys to Men: A Look at Modern Day Masculinity in Jamaica’. The conversation was moderated by media practitioner and public speaker, Brian Cuff.

“Investing in healthy men contributes to a healthier and safer society. So, it is allowing men to express themselves, as it [healthy expression] has an impact on them and other people in the society,” said Dr Campbell, who pointed out that the current Gender Policy is skewed towards protecting women and girls.

“If we need to make a change in our society, we really need to start understanding men without any preconceived notions. Sometimes we design programmes without even speaking to the men and that is why sometimes they don’t show up because you sit down in a boardroom and say, ‘The men want some mentoring’ and you create a mentorship programme and you target it at inner-city communities, assuming that only inner-city boys and men are responsible for all the problems in the society. But that is stereotypical and does not solve the problem,” he pointed out.

He said research has pointed out that men tend to be more receptive to walk-in counselling sessions and open doors and open space, which he said are more impactful.

Rev Jayson Downer noted that the messenger is key to communicating with men, pointing out that, often, women are used as the messengers.

“The issue of domestic violence [is one such example]. When you have women carrying the message and trying to reach men, it is like shooting yourself in the foot. There are enough men out there who are equipped to have this conversation. Men listen to men because we can identify when we get angry and how to deal with the situation,” he noted.

“I think the government relies too much on regular means of reaching men. To tackle some of these issues and to get the message out, you need to go where men are,” he said.

Rev Downer said men’s initiatives also need funding, including initiatives targeted at perpetrators, who he said should be targeted for reformation and rehabilitation.

“Men’s initiatives need funding. There are a lot of funding out there for women and girls…. a lot, and we support that. But we need funding for men. When all the resources go toward the victims, what will happen to the perpetrator? He will repeat the offence and I’m saying put some funding there [to facilitate reform],” he said.

The JN Circle Thrive Together Life Class was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by the JN Foundation to provide an avenue for persons to share their thoughts on a range of issues, including psychological and emotional matters. The sessions have been attracting several hundred participants locally and, in the Diaspora, such as the United States of America, Canada and England.

The JN Circle is a network of JN members and customers of JN member companies, who bond together through community building, advocacy and networking.

Omar Wright, lead, environment, and community development at the JN Foundation, is urging residents of Portmore to join forces to tackle the issue of improper solid waste disposal in the municipality.

“In our pursuit of waste reduction and proper disposal, we hold the key to transforming the environment and uplifting the lives of every resident in Portmore. I firmly believe in the immense power of collective action. When we unite our efforts, we have the capacity to accomplish extraordinary feats,” he said.
Mr Wright made the appeal while addressing the launch of the Portmore, JN Circle chapter, recently. Portmore became the 17th chapter of the JN Circle, a global network of JN members and customers who are empowered by JN to work together to improve their own lives, and the lives of others.
The JN Foundation lead on environment and community emphasized the urgency of addressing improper waste management, highlighting its far-reaching consequences on local environment, economy, and the health and wellbeing of residents, especially those situated near the coast.

In coastal communities, he emphasized that poor waste management practices can lead to devastating outcomes, including the contamination of pristine beaches and marine ecosystems, the depletion of natural resources, and the degradation of tourism industry that sustains local livelihoods. He underscored the alarming health hazards posed by improper waste management, such as the spread of diseases, the release of harmful toxins into the air and water, and the increased vulnerability of community members to respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.

“Improper waste disposal and the lack of proper collection and transportation systems are the primary causes of this problem. This leads to the accumulation of waste in public places such as streets and beaches, which can be harmful to the environment, marine life, and human health. The community [Portmore] is in dire need of an effective waste management plan that can mitigate these issues and create a cleaner and healthier environment for all,” he explained.

He informed that the Foundation’s waste management initiative was conceptualised a year ago when The Jamaica National Group considered some environmental challenges it could assist to address.

He assured prospective members that The Jamaica National Group is fully committed to supporting the waste management initiative, if taken on board, and will leverage its resources, relationships, expertise, and guidance to ensure its success.

Troy Bygrave, business relationship and sales manager at JN Bank, welcomed the launch of the JN Circle Portmore chapter.

“As Portmore continues to transform and thrive, the need for infrastructural and social support to aid its growth continue to emerge. Therefore, the launch of the JN Circle Portmore chapter is indeed timely, and we believe it will redound to the benefit of Portmore as it will assist with identifying and developing solutions to the municipality’s various challenges, as well as assist to forge the right partnerships for its development,” he said.
Erica Livermore, acting principal of the Sabina Basic School and prospective JN Circle member, said she was happy that JN Circle chapter has been established in Portmore. “It is a good initiative, and I am open to take on the challenge,” she said.
Celia Burnett, member relations supervisor, JN Group, with responsibility for the JN Circle chapters, said there had been numerous requests for a JN Circle chapter to be established in Portmore and that The Jamaica National Group was proud to respond positively to the calls.
She said the JN Circle provides a platform for members to use their voices to create change for themselves and their communities through advocacy, empowerment, and networking. Launched in 2019, the JN Circle has chapters in all parishes and one in the United Kingdom that have been positively impacting the lives of their members.

The Jamaica Combined Cadet Force is now celebrating the transformation of their multipurpose resource centre courtesy of members of staff of The Jamaica National Group who, on Labour Day, painted the building, and planted shade and fruit trees to enhance the facility.

Warrant Officer Dale Maitland of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force, in expressing his gratitude to the team, said the completion of the facility would not have been possible without the assistance of the JN Foundation, The Jamaica National Group volunteers, and other partners.

“It is a dream and vision that is being completed today. I am so glad that The Jamaica National Group is onboard to fulfil this dream. Thank you to the team and thank you for being here,” he said.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, led 40 enthusiastic volunteers from The Jamaica National Group to undertake this impactful Labour Day project. She described the experience as an awesome exercise for the volunteers and said that The Jamaica National Group was excited to have undertaken the project.

“It was work that was fulfilling and enlightening for us because the role that uniformed groups like the cadets play and can play in Jamaica is very important. It is our hope to support you in the work that you are doing and get more young people involved so that we can have better outcomes generally,” she said.

Omar Wright, lead for Environment and Community Development Programmes at the JN Foundation said the project was undertaken because The JN Foundation is centred on enriching lives and building communities and, therefore, the Foundation did not hesitate to get on board to support the uniformed group. He emphasised that youth and education are priority areas for the JN Foundation.

“We thought that we would not only sponsor the initiative, but we would also mobilise our members of staff to come out and engage in a day of service and give back to the community because we believe in empowering our youth,” he added.

For the volunteers who were on hand to assist with the project, it was a fulfilling day of service. Brittany McFarlane, remote customer service representative, at Total Credit Services, a member company of The Jamaica National Group expressed her satisfaction, saying, “It feels good. It is nice to give back to the community specifically the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force, it was a really fulfilling day,”.

Teshena Johnson, customer service representative at JN General Insurance said that it was a productive day for her and that it was good to give back to the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force.

“I felt excited to have been involved in such worthy cause because that will benefit young persons,” she said.

Dwayne Brown, executive, Cyber Security at The Jamaica National Group said he was glad to be among the volunteers to contribute to the project.

“Labour Day is a time for everyone to come together and contribute to projects that will benefit our country. I always look forward to Labour Day, so if I’m not doing something in my community, I always try to reach out and try to do things in other communities because I think giving back is important,” he said.

The newly refurbished resource centre, recently renamed the Lt. Colonel Edgar Williams Fuller Building in an unveiling ceremony in tribute to the Lt Colonel’s dedicated service to the Jamaica Combine Cadet Force, will serve as a space for training of the cadets. It will be equipped with computers and internet to assist the cadets with their educational work. Additionally, the centre will also be used for mentorship training, continuing Lt. Colonel Edgar Williams’s legacy of nurturing young individuals into model citizen with exceptional leadership qualities.

Lt. Colonel Edgar Williams served as Commanding Officer of the Independent Cadet Unit for more than 25 years, devoting his time in the training and development of youngsters to mould them into model citizens who display exemplary leadership qualities.

The month of May, although celebrated as Child Month, is also often a stressful time for many children, particularly those who sit exams during this period.

Against that background, it’s perhaps, therefore, apt that May is also observed as Mental Health Awareness Month to bring awareness to various stressors and the need for people to carefully manage life’s challenges- even children.

Jhanille Brooks, licenced associate counselling psychologist, says, given the realities of life, practising mindfulness can help relieve stress and health-related illnesses, especially for students.

“The whole concept of mindfulness speaks fully to being engaged and immersed in a moment and in the presence. Not too much in the past and not so much in the future. It means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment,” explained Brooks.

She gave the advice as a guest on the JN Foundation’s Parent and Child Empowerment Seminar, which was held recently for JN scholars and their parents.

Citing some benefits of the therapy, she said this includes helping one to stay focused. It can also help to improve physical health, to treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties. She said mindfulness also helps to treat mental health problems especially those associated with anxiety and depression.

The counselling psychologist said stress can manifest itself in different forms, such as frequent stomach upsets, headaches, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, feeling tired all the time, feeling burnout and being impatient or irritable.

Ms Brooks advised students who attended the session that it is important to develop a self-care plan, which can be useful to address issues of stress before examinations. This plan she said entailed reconnecting with a spiritual source, exercise and doing physical activity, and feeding one’s mind with positivity and humour.

“Unhealthy junk food all the time is not ideal, having a healthy diet is better. Spending quality time alone is also important. The meditation that we spoke about and staying positive and having a sense of humour are also important,” she said.

She informed that there are free apps that can assist with relaxation, such as Headspace, Aura, Breethe and Calm.

“There are many apps out there, so find one that works for you. It is best to have it on your smart phone so when you feel stressed in a moment you can plug in your headphone and listen to the app, which will help to keep you calm,” she said.

The seminar was the first of several sessions being organised by the JN Foundation. Parris Lyew-Ayee, chairman of the JN Foundation, said the sessions are aimed at empowering both parents and scholars.

“This session has been specifically designed so that you can take away educational information, but also so that you can acquire life skills and specific aptitudes, such as developing a financial mind-set, ways to set and achieve your goals, and skills to manage stress,” he said.

The more than 50 students who were in attendance were also exposed to goal setting strategies and techniques and financial literacy with a focus on money management.

In support of the National Tree Planting initiative, The Jamaica National Group has distributed 700 seedlings to its members. The mixture of fruit and ornamental tree seedlings were distributed as part of a pre-Labour Day activity across five of its branches island-wide, recently.

Kimberly Gardner, marketing relations officer of The JN Group Marking Department said the distribution was in support of this year’s national Labour Day theme, ‘Plant a Tree for Life, Promoting Climate Change Mitigation, Food Security and Road Safety’.

“We did a similar initiative last year and this year was a continuation of that promise to support the national thrust to plant three million trees, which is being spearheaded by the Forestry Department,” she explained.

“It also coincides with our own initiative to ensure that the environment is one that is safe and that there is sustainability by ensuring that we plant as many trees as we can,” she said.

Mrs Gardner said the initiative forms part of the JN Group’s Environmental Sustainability Programme, which is being done through the JN Foundation. The programme is geared at supporting environmental awareness practices in Jamaica by focusing on key areas, such as deforestation, waste management, water conservation and energy efficiency.

The marketing relations officer disclosed that fruit and ornamental trees were distributed to its members at JN Bank branches in Portmore and Spanish Town in St Catherine; Half Way Tree in St. Andrew; May Pen in Clarendon and the JN General Insurance office on King Street in downtown, Kingston.

Mrs Gardner informed that an agronomist from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) was on site at the Half Way Tree location informing customers about how to care for the plants they were gifted.

“What we have found is that there are numerous tree planting activities each year but not a lot of support in terms of plant care. So, we thought that having an agronomist on site to share information with our customers would be beneficial,” she said.

The agronomist also gave tips on how to create a backyard garden and how to manage the different plants that were distributed.

JN members who received the trees commended the financial institution for executing the initiative. “This initiative undertaken by The Jamaica National Group is good. Everybody should be planting as this is good for the environment,” said Gareth Fairweather, a JN member.

Mrs Gardner said the initiative will be sustained.

“We look forward to executing more initiatives like these as we emphasise the importance of tree planting and supporting a healthy environment,” she stated.

Despite becoming a young father by age 21, Luigi Allen was adamant that he would overcome the “burdens” of fatherhood at a young age to pursue the career of his dreams.

With the support of his family and friends, the now Customer Success Account Manager at Microsoft, and former JN Scholar, enrolled in the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in the year 2000, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Information Science.

“While in college I realised I had to discover myself and my place in this world, identify who I wanted to be and what legacy I wanted to leave behind,” he informed.

Mr Allen said his life took a positive turn after “giving his life to Christ” while in his first year of university and he became deliberate about maintaining good grades. He credits his parents with support, but singled out his stepmother, who, he said, encouraged him to apply for scholarships.

While in his second year he was awarded a scholarship by the JN Foundation. He said he did so well that year when the scholarship was first awarded, that the following year it was renewed.

“As a scholarship recipient, I felt a variety of emotions. First, I felt immense gratitude for the recognition and financial support I had received. I was thankful and appreciative of the opportunity to pursue my educational goals without the burden of financial constraints,” he said.

Mr Allen shared that receiving the scholarship brought him joy, as it signified that his hard work and dedication were being acknowledged and rewarded.

“I felt excited and proud, knowing that my efforts had paid off and that I had been chosen for this honour,” he added.

Mr Allen credits his tertiary education with setting him on a path to success. Twenty years since graduating from NCU, he now lives in the US, and is married with two more children and has a successful career at Microsoft – where his classmates at NCU had predicted his journey would take him.

“It took 10 years after being in the United States to land my dream job. I had applied to Microsoft many times, and I was not selected but it was only after I got my Project Management certification that I became visible to Microsoft,” he said, adding that it took 20 interviews before he finally landed the job.

Now in his eighth year at Microsoft, Mr Allen describes his journey as “amazing,” noting the fulfilment he gets from advising well-established companies.

“I’m now in a conference room as a trusted advisor to well-known companies and before I only had a glimpse of these companies on television. But to be in a space like this and in such a capacity- for me that is mind-blowing,” he mused.

He also has advice for young men and young women. He is encouraging them to embark on a journey of self-discovery, similar to the journey he took on as a young man to find himself.  

“I think self-discovery is an important thing and the earlier and sooner we can figure out who we are and what we want to leave as a legacy, this would be good. Along the way you have to be disciplined, and surround yourself with people who are like-minded,” he advised.

Rose Miller, manager, Strategic Empowerment Programmes at the JN Foundation says a financially literate person can more easily detect when they are being scammed and so ward off financial danger.

Mrs Miller made the comment while addressing a financial empowerment lunch and learn session organised by the JN Foundation in collaboration with JN Member companies, JN Fund Managers Limited and JN Life Insurance Company Limited. The session was delivered to members of staff of The Jamaica National Group.

“Financial education is vital because when you are financially smart you understand how to manage your money. You are not likely to fall prey to scams and fraud because you can see and smell it a mile off,” she pointed out.

She also noted that due to a high level of awareness, a financially literate person can spot a financial opportunity early and because they are armed with the knowledge, can make financially smart decisions.

“You can analyse the situation and make good choices. You are also able to manage your debt. It is very easy to get into debt and if you don’t understand what you are doing and don’t know the basics, you are at a serious disadvantage,” she warned.

According to the Financial Literacy Around the World Report, published in 2019, which was undertaken by Standard & Poor’s with representatives from the World Bank, regarding simple financial literacy, only 33 per cent of Jamaicans surveyed indicated that they had knowledge of basic financial principles.

Mrs Miller lamented that the data show that too many Jamaicans have a low level of financial literacy.

“We advocate for financial literacy, 33 per cent of our people being financially literate is just too low and ignorance has a very high price. So, what would I suggest? We all should get on board,” she recommended.

The JN Foundation Manager for Strategic Empowerment Programmes suggested that to increase literacy, persons should take responsibility for their own financial education by seeking out information to improve understanding of basic financial concepts: the internet is a great resource, listening to financial programmes and attending financial literacy sessions are all ways to increase an individual’s financial IQ.

She said having garnered this information, persons are encouraged to practice what has been learnt and then share the knowledge with family and friends.

“If we are going to make this country better, we need to help each other on this journey, share what you learn and encourage action.  One very good reason for this is because we are still in a ‘village’ and everything my neighbour does, affects me and so I encourage you to share the knowledge,” she stated.

The lunch and learn session was held on April 27 to close out Financial Literacy Month. The theme of the session was ‘Securing the Financial Future You and Your Family Deserve. What You Can and Should do Now’. Other members of the panel were Delories Jones, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, JN Fund Managers Ltd. and Hugh Reid, general manager, JN Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Rose Miller, manager, Strategic Empowerment Programmes at the JN Foundation is underscoring the value of financial literacy and encouraging Jamaicans to take this matter seriously as this is one way to bolster economic growth and development for the country.

“Financially literate citizens will know the importance of saving and investing. When citizens save and invest, this will promote stability in a country. This in turn will help to generate more investments and translate into economic growth and development,” she said.

Mrs Miller gave the advice against the background of financial literacy month which is being observed in April as well as the country’s relatively low level of financial literacy.

According to the Financial Literacy Around the World Report, published in 2019, which was undertaken by Standard & Poor’s with representatives from the World Bank, Jamaica was ranked 29 out of the 47 scores assigned to 142 countries. In regards to simple financial literacy, only 33% of Jamaicans surveyed indicated that they had knowledge of basic financial principles.

She pointed out that the argument for improving and promoting financial education is compelling and the need to narrow the financial literacy gap was urgent.  She urged Jamaicans to take responsibility for improving their financial education.

“All adults should make it a priority to learn something new about the area of finance every day. Invest time in improving your financial IQ; it will pay big dividends.  And, if you are a parent, as early as possible, help your children to develop  a positive attitude and behaviour towards money, teach  them simple money management skills and provide opportunities for them to practice these  skills,” she stated.

Mrs. Miller said persons should pursue financial education. “Firstly, it enables you to make better and wiser financial decisions. People with a high level of financial literacy feel more confident about their finances.  They have a greater understanding of the risks and benefits associated with different financial options; are able to spot, evaluate and take action on investment opportunities, manage debt wisely and are more likely to achieve their financial goals,” she explained.

The JN Foundation manager of Strategic Empowerment Programmes further notes that being financially literate enables individuals to be more protective of their financial affairs.

“This is because you are equipped with knowledge and you will not be easily duped.  It’s easier to identity or recognise financial scams and fraud, providing a stronger barrier of protection against these, allowing you to safeguard your finances, your financial well-being and your peace of mind,” she said.

Mrs Miller noted that increased financial awareness will also help a person to build wealth over time and therefore secure, a legacy which can be transferred to the next generation.   

“With a deeper understanding of how money works, these persons are likely to make better financial choices with long-term benefits.  This she said, can build financial security and stability for themselves, their families and also set up the next generation for financial success,” she informed.

She gave the following challenge to encourage individuals to improve their level of financial literacy: “Learn something new every day, “Take advantage of the vast amount of knowledge currently available such as, free seminars; information in the media and on the internet. There is simply no excuse to be ignorant.”

In addition, she said persons should commit to share the knowledge gained and act on the knowledge.  She noted that these approaches will put families and ultimately the country on the path of financial security.