PM SIMPSON MILLER ON WORK OF DIGICEL FOUNDATION: “NO SMALL ACCOMPLISHMENT”

Kingston, Jamaica – Friday, January 17, 2013

NATIONAL KISS: Brian Foote, Head Boy for Genesis Academy, gleefully receives a kiss on the cheek from Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. Occasion was the 10^th Anniversary Launch of the Digicel Foundation on January 15, which was held at the Stella Maris Foundation, a foundation partner. The Keynote Speaker for the launch was the Prime Minister, who commended the Foundation for its collaborative approach to national development. Digicel 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.

PARTNERING FOR OUR FUTURE: Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, laughs on the shoulder of Andy Thorborn, Digicel’s CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean. Occasion was the 10^th Anniversary Launch of the Digicel Foundation on January 15, which was held at the Stella Maris Foundation, a foundation partner. The Keynote Speaker for the launch was the Prime Minister, who commended the Foundation for its collaborative approach to national development. Digicel 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.

COMMITTED TO JAMAICA: Samantha Chantrelle, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, highlights the successful partnerships with persons, organisations, and communities in Jamaica, which the foundation has had since its inception in 2004. Seen in the background is sign language interpreter, Tarji Miller, of the Jamaica Association of the Deaf. Occasion was the 10^th Anniversary Launch of the Digicel Foundation on January 15, which was held at the Stella Maris Foundation, a foundation partner. The Keynote Speaker for the launch was the Prime Minister, who commended the Foundation for its collaborative approach to national development. Digicel 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 Digicel Foundation was created precisely as a response to the urgent needs of people.  Its birth came as a result of Digicel's response to an emergency--- in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in 2004,” noted the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, who served as the Keynote speaker at the Digicel Foundation 10th Anniversary Launch. The function was held at the Stella Maris Foundation. 

The Prime Minister continued to commend the work of the Digicel Foundation as she said, “In a decade, this foundation has funded 437 projects to the tune of US$19 million, impacting the lives of 400,000 persons. That is no small accomplishment!  It is an indication of Digicel’s commitment to the people of Jamaica.  The Digicel Foundation has done impressive work in community enterprise, assisting persons in income-generating activities and building their skills.  I am particularly gratified by the foundation’s work in education and with persons with special needs.” 

The Prime Minister further noted the importance of teamwork in national development, “Digicel, and in particular the Digicel Foundation has continued to display its commitment to partnership, collaboration and cooperation with the development of Jamaica and Jamaicans as its primary mandate. The administration I lead believes in Public Private Partnership.  We believe that ‘we are all in this thing together’.

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. 

“Ten years ago, the Digicel Foundation started with the conviction that where we grow, our communities should grow with us. Our Patron, Dennis O’Brien, believed and still believes that the key to national development is the facilitation of sustainable community enterprise projects; true development is only sustainable when people are empowered to help themselves,” said Digicel Foundation Chair, Lisa Lewis. 

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.

About Digicel Foundation

The Digicel Foundation is the largest local private sector foundation in Jamaica. Since its inception in 2004 the Foundation has invested over J$2 billion in communities in which Digicel operates islandwide. The Digicel Foundation has been proactive in the areas of Education, Special Needs, and Community Empowerment.

The Digicel Foundation has:

·          Invested over J$100 million in their Enrichment Initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education to improve literacy at the primary school level islandwide.

·          Invested over J$100million in resource rooms, including science and IT labs, in high schools islandwide.

·          Committed to building 10 Special Needs schools, two of which, the STEP Centre, and NAZ Children’s Centre and Early Stimulation Plus. An investment of over $100 million has already been made to the special needs sector.

·          Invested over J$60 million in Community Empowerment initiatives over the past four years, including $10 million annually and $15 million in 2012 to support the National Best Communities Competition and Program.

·          Invested $13 million in the ‘Back to Roots—Stronger Roots, Stronger Communities, Stronger Nation Project.’ The programme aims to help community organizations become more self-reliant by facilitating their transition to social enterprises, by teaching them how to run sustainable community businesses.