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UncategorizedJuly 30, 2018

SEBI Biz mix brings speed dating to businesses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See the original article here!

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road_
UncategorizedJuly 19, 2018

Child Road Safety Assesment Launch

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

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UncategorizedJuly 19, 2018

Kingston, Westmoreland and St. Catherine Record Highest Child Road Fatalities – JN Foundation/ UNICEF Child Road Safety Report

Kingston, including the Metropolitan Area; Westmoreland, St. Catherine as well as Clarendon, have been recorded as the locations where children suffer from the highest number of road crashes and fatalities.
This is based on recent research findings published by JN Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
The research entitled: “JN/UNICEF Child Road Safety Assessment Report,” was officially launched by the Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, on Wednesday, July 18 at the Regional Headquarters of The University of the West Indies.
Conducted by a team of researchers, led by Dr. Earl Bailey, at the University of Technology, Jamaica, the findings revealed that among children in all parishes, it is primarily boys who fall victim to road traffic fatalities and injuries.

Dr. Bailey, in presenting the details of the research, disclosed that non-school days had the highest percentage of crashes. Meanwhile, the first quarter of each year is recorded as having the highest number of child road traffic fatalities for the years 2010 to 2017. High figures were also recorded in the third quarter, followed by the last and second quarter, respectively.

Dr. Bailey said from 2010 to 2017 the cumulative quarterly average for child road traffic fatalities was 32.

Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, said that the organisation endorsed the research because of its crucial importance to understanding and solving some critical factors driving loss of life on the nation’s roadways.

She noted that the information will be used to implement “X Marks the Spot,” the Crosswalk Road Safety Campaign and that selected educational institutions will benefit from any of a number of interventions including bus lay-bys; pedestrian gates; as well as, the widening and paving of sidewalks.

She pointed out that Hazard Primary School, in Clarendon, will be the first beneficiary of the campaign.

“We are happy to be implementing the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign, as we see major benefits, not only for our nation’s children, but also the communities in which our members reside,” she added.
Meanwhile, Senator Floyd commended the JN Foundation and UNICEF for their support of the research, which he said, will be beneficial to citizens and the country.
The research was conducted over a 10 week period, and the Report focuses mainly on child road safety in Jamaica and particularly the implications for school children.
Sources included the weekly and monthly crash reports published by the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Mining; Crash Spot reports and maps published by the Mona GeoInformatics Institute; the 216 National School geographic data from the Ministry of Education’s Statistical Department; the JN Foundation’s in-house data; information from UNICEF; and from other multilateral support agencies.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation estimated that 1.25 million people are killed, while 50 million sustained non-fatal injuries, annually. Of this number, some 15 per cent were child fatalities; and others suffered long term, or permanent physical disabilities, dismemberment and scars.
The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) maintains that road traffic injuries are estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–29 years old.

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

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UncategorizedJuly 16, 2018

House or car? Which should I buy first?

Many a young person have undoubtedly asked themselves at some point whether they should buy a house first, or a car.
And it’s a question which usually elicits strong and passionate discussions in the financial empowerment seminars she hosts across the country, says Rose Miller, grants manager at JN Foundation.

“This is a common concern and a question I receive all the time. There are many schools of thought and opinions on the matter but there are really no right or wrong answers. Need, ability and opportunity would be some key motivators,” she tells the Jamaica Observer.

Miller notes that many people choose to buy the car first because it’s more affordable, which means saving for the down payment is easier.

“[But] as young people focus on their goals, their decisions shouldn’t be based on what is easiest. The watchwords must be ‘priority’ and ‘necessity’; not what is ‘cheaper’ or ‘more fashionable’,” she advises.

In fact, Miller says there are two key priorities which should precede the house or car — educational and/or career advancement, and settling debt.

“Are there any educational goals you would like to attain? Did you leave school with proper certification, or with the grades you really wanted? Those are questions to consider,” she advises. “If you didn’t graduate with requisite, competitive or marketable qualifications, then continuing your education should be a key focus.”

“Now, if you left school with proper qualifications then your priority at this point would be to ensure you settle any outstanding debt used to acquire this training. This will help you to build a good credit rating, which will come in handy when it’s time to secure the loan for a car or a mortgage for a home.”

As it pertains to purchasing a car, Miller points out that young people should make their decision based on whether or not it will be a financial asset, rather than solely on the challenges of public transportation.

“For example, do you need it for your job? There are some jobs, such as sales representatives, that require a reliable motor vehicle to effectively carry out work functions. In other words, is the car necessary to earn your income?”

“Can you use this car to facilitate an entrepreneurial venture utilising a skill or even tap into rental opportunities? The unit will then be more of an asset [that is]: fuelling your journey to financial independence rather than a liability — which is in effect a hindrance to that journey.”

In respect to homeownership, Miller says that while it should always be on their radar, it doesn’t have to be at the top of the list for young graduates during the first few years of their financial development.

“Homeownership is of great economic and social value, and a house, and real estate, in general, has over time proven to be a solid investment…[but] at this point your goal should be to create a solid financial platform on which you can build everything else. This should include an emergency fund consisting of at least six months’ living expenses,” she advises.

As they build that platform, Miller says it is advisable that, if possible, young graduates consider living at home with their parents for a few years.

“If you have saved enough for the down payment on a house and are in a position to comfortably make the monthly payments, then a house could also be seen as a means to gain additional income.

“However, if you are renting, then assess how much you are paying for rent and whether that money could be better put towards a mortgage. Also, you could reduce your cost for rent by sharing an apartment with room-mates and save the deposit to purchase a house.”

See the orginal article here!

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hazard_primary
UncategorizedJuly 5, 2018

JN Foundation Implements X-Marks the Spot Crosswalk Road Safety Campaign in Clarendon

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

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

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

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

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

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

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