summer-camp

A group of high school students from across Jamaica participated in an eye-opening field trip, organised by the JN Foundation recently, following the Foundation’s third annual Financial Academy Virtual Summer Camp.

The students, ages 12 to 17 years old, gained firsthand experience with vertical farming and other innovative agricultural practices at Tower Farms, located in Kingston. The field trip exposed students to modern farming techniques and encouraged entrepreneurial thinking driven by sustainability.

Jada Sinclair, a 16-year-old student from St Andrew High School for Girls, was particularly inspired by the experience. “Today’s field trip was very unique,” Jada said. “I’ve seen vertical planting on TikTok before, but this was my first time seeing it in real life. It’s making me feel very creative, especially in terms of business ideas.”

Jada, who is set to start sixth form soon, has her sights set on entrepreneurship. She’s already working on a math tutoring business that she hopes will stand out in a competitive market.

“My idea is to create a website where teenagers tutor other students. I think it would be less intimidating for younger students to get help from someone their age.”

The field trip also made a strong impression on Reuel Allen, a 10th grader from Manning’s School in Westmoreland, who expressed newfound respect for agriculture despite not initially being a fan of farming.

“The field trip was very informative,” Reuel said. “I never thought farming could be so innovative,” he said.

Dimitri Nelson, second-form student at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, found the experience both educational and inspiring. “It was a new experience for me, and I really enjoyed learning about entrepreneurship in farming. It’s something I might consider as a part-time job in the future.”

However, it was the entrepreneurial values on display that caught 17-year-old Joshua Palmer’s attention. The Calabar High School student who recently completed his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, found the field trip particularly inspiring. “From a business perspective, it was very informative. It taught me about the importance of persistence and dedication.”

The day was marked by discussions on sustainability, entrepreneurship, and the future of farming in Jamaica. Owners of Tower Farms, John Mark Clayton and Kerrie-Anne Gray emphasised the importance of teaching young people farming skills that would not only serve them in their personal lives but also contribute to the nation’s agricultural sector.

“Feeding yourself should be taught in schools. You should always learn how to be self-sufficient and resilient. “Of course, this [kind of farming] will reduce the impact on the environmental issues that we are having,” said Mr Clayton.

Ms Gray added, “It’s important to teach kids that farming isn’t just about hard work and dirty boots anymore. It’s about innovation, sustainability and creating opportunities for the future.”

Chevanese Peters, project coordinator at the JN Foundation, said she was happy the students had a rich experience from the field trip and stressed that farming, often seen as an outdated or unappealing career, is in fact a vital and innovative field that continues to be crucial to Jamaica’s future.

The students left the farm not only with new knowledge but also with a deeper understanding of the opportunities that lie in entrepreneurship and modern agriculture. The two-part field trip  also included a tour of the JN Bank Half-Way-Tree branch where the participants experienced innovative processes and technology used in modern banking. Many expressed an eagerness to explore these fields further, whether as a career or a personal hobby.

The field trip was the culmination of a virtual summer camp that was held by the JN Foundation recently under the theme ‘Building the Future Entrepreneur’.

Low levels of financial literacy in the country could lead to poor credit management, increase debt burdens and high levels of fraud exposure. Given the importance of financial management, the JN Foundation will be launching the JN Financial Academy, which aims to empower JN members to achieve financial freedom by providing information, training, and mentorship to help them make better financial decisions.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said the establishment of the Academy is a demonstration of the ‘People First’ commitment of The Jamaica National Group.

“Our vision is to see all Jamaicans educated and financially free. While the achievement of its mandate will indeed enrich lives and build communities, our work will also call on the organisation to demonstrate the extent to which they accommodate the empowerment of all members, particularly those who are unbanked and under-banked,” she pointed out.

She underscored that The Jamaica National Group has always advocated for financial inclusion, and has been a champion of consumer and business empowerment, especially in relation to banking and finance.

The Academy will raise the level of money management and financial awareness and skills, as well as provide coaching support to manage debt to achieve financial freedom. In addition, it will also influence the public discourse about financial inclusion, savings, borrowing trends and consumer education, by undertaking research and engaging in public dialogue.

The JN Financial Academy will administer courses for virtual, on-demand and face-to-face training sessions. Members who enrol in the Academy may also be offered personal coaching based on their unique current financial position and future plans.

Ms Allen noted that teaching and learning will commence as early as September with the offer of services to support persons unable to access credit, or to enter the formal banking system.

“We will work with individuals and entrepreneurs. And, our offer will include modules focusing on building a bankable character; understanding loans, and credit remediation,” she said.

Other courses will include: Understanding Credit Reports; Wealth Building; Insurance as a tool for financial security, and Investing for youth.

The Academy is the latest education initiative being undertaken by The Jamaica National Group through the JN Foundation. Earlier initiatives include the JN BeWi$e Financial Empowerment programme, which teaches the core principles of money management and the tools necessary to improve one’s financial status, establish stability and independence.

“The Academy is the evolution of our BeWi$e programme. We are aiming to reach more Jamaicans and to help improve their behaviour and attitude to money and provide practical ways that help them access and use credit responsibly … and of course, build inter-generational wealth,” she said.