FOUR VOLATILE COMMUNITIES IN SAV-LA-MAR TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ���SOURCE���


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FOUR VOLATILE COMMUNITIES IN SAV-LA-MAR TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ���SOURCE���

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FOUR VOLATILE COMMUNITIES IN SAV-LA-MAR TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ���SOURCE���

Digicel Foundation participates in ground breaking of JNBS Foundation – The Source Savanna-La-Mar

Kingston, Jamaica – 17 May 2010: Through a partnership with Digicel Foundation and the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation, the large and volatile communities of Grotto, Russia, Gully Bank, and Seaton Crescent in Westmoreland, will soon benefit from JNBS Foundation’s The Source. The groundbreaking for The Source took place on Friday, May 14, 2010 with construction beginning Monday, May 17, 2010.

Under the umbrella of social entrepreneurship, The Source Sav-La-Mar will be a central business hub for members of these communities to access a wide assortment of services and opportunities. Through a community meeting held earlier this year by the JNBS Foundation, members highlighted the need for an institution to serve the people amidst the increasing levels of crime and violence. “We need some skills training and literacy programs in our community (Russia); the illiteracy rate is high, so most of the youths are unemployable,” said one community member.

“The Source Savanna-La-Mar will be much larger than all others preceding it as there are several objectives we want to meet and it is on this basis that we approached the Digicel Foundation to partner with us on this project,” commented Saffrey Brown, JNBS Foundation’s General Manager. “We want to increase the level of employment within these communities, increase access to business incubation and entrepreneurial and business support services, increase entrepreneurship, access to lifelong learning and education and finally, we want to increase access to information and computer technology.”
Digicel Foundation was driven to come on board with this initiative based on the gamut of needs that this institution will meet for so many persons. “We recognize the value of reaching out to communities in troubled areas to develop opportunities and possibilities of improvement for the communities and for individuals”, expressed Major General Robert Neish, Executive Director of Digicel Foundation. “This initiative speaks to our core values as a Foundation which is empowering communities to be self-reliant and we commend JNBS Foundation for creating social entrepreneurship opportunity to these communities in Savanna-La-Mar.”
The Source Savanna-La-Mar will feature an auditorium (for distance learning for Universities and community meetings), four business incubation units available for short-term lease, a healthy lifestyle café, multi-purpose courts and a recording studio. Jamaica Business Information Centre (JAMBIC) will also be housed at The Source, to provide handholding support (business plans and registration) for entrepreneurs. In the meantime, Community Security and Justice Program (CSJP) will also provide entrepreneurial training, parenting workshops, conflict resolution, mentorship and leadership opportunities to the communities at large. Other partners involved are Y’s Menettes Service Club, Jamaica Lifelong for Learning and the Social Development Commission.

The Source Savannah-La-Mar will be the fifth of its kind, islandwide (Marverly, August Town, Treasure Beach, and St. Ann).  The Source is a multi-function centre and business hub that offers various services (internet, printing) and business incubation units and support.


About the JNBS Foundation
The JNBS Foundation was established in 1990 as the charitable arm of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS). Our mandate is to manage and execute the philanthropic efforts of the Society, and contribute to the developmental needs of Jamaica. Built on the concept of mutuality, JNBS gives back to the Jamaican people and communities across the island, by providing financial and technical support to projects and programmes both at the community and at the national level.
Visit www.jnfoundation.org for more information.

FOUR VOLATILE COMMUNITIES IN SAV-LA-MAR TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ���SOURCE���