Youths Take Centre Stage as Digicel Foundation presents 20 for 20 Grants


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Youths Take Centre Stage with 20 for 20 Grants

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Youths Take Centre Stage with 20 for 20 Grants

20 Retail Grants Issued in Celebration of Digicel Jamaica's 20th Anniversary

Organisations across the island rejoiced as we turned our attention to the most pressing issues in local communities - education and youth engagement - with our 20 for 20 grants. The grants span all 14 parishes with 20 grants issued at US$4,000 (JM$650,000) each. Foundation team joined our Digicel retailers and several groups at the Digicel retail store at 14 Ocean Boulevard on Tuesday, August 10 to hand over cheques.

The 20 for 20 grants are a part of our micro-grants under the Mek A Muckle programme. These are made available each year for community-based organisations to complete small projects.

“The applications received really speak to the great need for investment in our youths,” said our CEO, Charmaine Daniels, while handing over grants at Digicel’s downtown Kingston headquarters. “While these micro-grants were open to all community-based groups, we had an overwhelming number of requests for primary schools, homework programmes and skill training workshops for our young persons.”

Launched in April as a part of the Digicel Jamaica 20th anniversary celebrations, the grants were identified with assistance from Digicel retailers island-wide. Of the 20 issued, 16 were selected to benefit basic and primary school upgrades. The other four were focused on after-school assistance, youth training and skill development in the areas of agriculture, sports and craft.

“The funds will help us to provide meals and enable us to assist tutors and our children to perform well in the classroom,” said President of the Southern Basketball Conference Jamaica, Jason Moses. The group offers a sports and youth development programmes to young persons in Majestic Gardens.

Other grantees included: Golden Kiddies Kingdom and Roswell Primary School in Clarendon; Kendal Primary School in Hanover; Church of God of Prophecy Basic School in Kingston; Cacoon Primary School in Hanover; Bethabara Primary School in Manchester; Port Antonio Primary School in Portland; Hinds Town Basic School and Golden Grove Primary School in St. Ann; St. Gala’s Basic School and Windsor Lions Community Sports Club in St. Catherine; Munro Preparatory School in St. Elizabeth; Mount Ward Primary School and Retirement Basic School in St. James; Bonny Gate Women’s Group in St. Mary; Hampton Court Basic School and Needham Pen Farmers Association in St. Thomas; Darliston Primary School in Westmoreland; and Spicy Hill Community Centre in Trelawny.

“The funding for a school is never adequate,” explained Antoinette Riley, principal of Cacoon Primary in Hanover. “When we can get funding from a corporate entity like the Digicel Foundation it just makes me feel elated.”

Youths Take Centre Stage as Digicel Foundation presents 20 for 20 Grants