Monthly Archives: October 2023

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.

Photo Caption: Germaine Barrett (center), founder and executive director of the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE), leads a conversation with Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn (left), youth and education programmes lead at JN Foundation and Dr Kasan Troupe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, at the launch event for National Debaters Week at the Faculty of Law at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies on September 28. Dr Troupe committed to having further dialogue with JADE about the future of debating in schools. JN Foundation is supporting JADE with its activities to mark National Debaters Week, which runs from October 7 to 14. 

The Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE) has taken another step towards advancing debating locally, with the handing over of a strategic plan to the Ministry of Education and Youth for the phased development of the activity in secondary schools across the country.

Germaine Barrett, founder and executive director of JADE, presented the document to Dr. Kasan Troupe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, during the launch event for National Debaters’ Week (NDW) 2023 at the Faculty of Law on the Mona campus of The University of the West Indies on September 28. The handover follows JADE’s meeting with the leadership of the JN Foundation in September, where Mr. Barrett first revealed the plans. At that meeting, Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, had emphasized how the art of debating could help solve some societal issues.

Speaking at the launch event to a packed audience of high school students and other specially invited guests, Mr. Barrett shared that the document formed part of the organisation’s plans to get debating to the next level.

He also used the opportunity to call for a meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Education to have further dialogue on the plan and to determine next steps.

“We are requesting a meeting with the Ministry so we can have a conversation to see how we can get this infused into the schools and develop world renowned debating clubs,” he said.

The JADE founder and executive director said he hopes the plan and discussions will help Jamaica catch up to other countries which are already executing a more sustainable approach for debating in schools.

“When you travel overseas, debating is extraordinary, it is ingrained within the curriculum of schools, and I want to challenge the Ministry of Education and Youth to think about doing that so that we can get more critical thinkers, effective communicators, [develop] better conflict management and all of those beautiful things that can be derived from debate.”

Dr. Troupe committed to meeting with JADE and said the public “will be hearing more from the ministry about a bigger investment in debating.”

The permanent secretary, who was also the guest speaker for the National Debaters’ Week launch event, said the ministry is committed to revolutionising the school curriculum and making a difference with the learning programmes for students. Pointing to the new National Standards Curriculum, she noted that it has been reviewed and endorsed by the top performing countries in education, Finland and Singapore.

The permanent secretary also commended JADE for its work in advancing debating in the island, as well as the students for having an interest in debating, describing the art as a critical skill for leaders.

“There are no losses in a competition of debating. You can either win or learn, you can never lose,” she said.

National Debaters’ Week (NDW) 2023 will run from October 7- 14. JADE is executing a series of activities to celebrate the week, with the support of the JN Foundation. The week’s activities include the Caribbean Conference on Dialogue and Debate (CCDD), which is scheduled to be held at the University of Technology, Jamaica on October 12.

For the full list of events and to register to participate in the activities, persons can visit myjade.org.