10 Years of Life-Changing Partnerships

The Digicel Foundation will celebrate its 10 ^th Anniversary by highlighting 10 years of life-changing partnerships with extraordinary Jamaicans and organisations. The announcement was made at the 10 ^th Anniversary launch event, held at the Stella Maris Foundation. Keynote speaker, Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, commended the Foundation for its collaborative approach to national development: “Digicel stands with the people, especially those in need and help. The over US $19 million to date that they have invested in the country, is an indication of Digicel’s commitment to community enterprise and income generating activities … We need socially sensitive entities like Digicel for the social development of Jamaica.” The Prime Minister further highlighted that there are, “so many brilliant people in Jamaica that can do anything with opportunity. Together let’s give diligent and assiduous Jamaicans their time to shine, it is the responsibility of all of us to get it right … I am impressed that you chose extraordinary people to highlight and to inspire others, I believe in public-private partnerships … [and] I call on all Jamaicans to give something back.” Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has learned that the key to sustainable development is successful partnerships with communities. As such, the Foundation’s core mission is to facilitate sustainable national development through three focus areas—Education, Special Needs and Community Development. Through partnerships, the Foundation has to date directly empowered 446,000 Jamaicans through 400 development projects, with a total investment of JA$1.95B. “The synergies created in our collaborations with thousands of people across Jamaica have motivated us to keep doing more,” said Digicel Foundation Chair, Lisa Lewis. “Their dedication, commitment and vision certainly provide an impetus for national development in Jamaica.” To celebrate this 10th Anniversary milestone, the Digicel Foundation also announced a number of collaborations that will be undertaken in each of the three areas of focus. The Special Needs portfolio will continue to work with schools across the island to create Centres of Excellence for Special Needs students, bringing the total number of Centres from four to ten. This year, the Foundation will again host the 5K Run/Walk for Special Needs as well as a 10K Inspiration Run. In the Education sector, the Foundation will continue to expand the Enrichment program with the provision of specially designed Mobile Science Carts for 10 schools island-wide. Among the schools selected are: Belmont Academy, Cedar Grove High, Steer Town High, St. Andrew Technical High, Kingston High and others. The Digicel Foundation will also partner with the BREDS Foundation under the Community Development portfolio by contributing an additional JA$10 million in support of the Treasure Beach Foundation Sports Park. It was officially opened in November 2011 to the tune of JA$5.7 million, courtesy of the Digicel Foundation. The Park, which is already hosting local schools and clubs, aims to host regional and international sporting events. The Stella Maris Foundation was chosen as the location for the launch of the 10 ^th Anniversary due to its long standing history with the Digicel Foundation. In 2005, the Digicel Foundation donated JA$6M to the creation of a skills development programme at the Stella Maris Foundation. Since then, the training activities have been expanded and over 1,000 young Jamaicans from the surrounding communities have been certified through the programme. “At the Stella Maris Foundation, we wanted to have a lasting legacy in the Grants Pen area, without the Digicel Foundation that may not have been possible,” noted Omar Frith, General Manager of the Stella Maris Foundation. “We wanted to expand our training offerings and we would not have been able to do this without the creation of a proper skills development programme. We needed an extraordinary intervention to continue to do extraordinary work in the Grants Pen area” added Frith. The Digicel Foundation remains committed to expanding the reach of development projects through new innovative life-changing partnerships and projects.