Dear JNA Members and Supporters,
Ambassador Curtis A. Ward recently sat down with leaders of two small
Jamaican Diaspora organizations operating in the DMV (District of Columbia,
Maryland and Virginia) area to talk about their work in the Jamaican
communities in the United States and in Jamaica.
These two small organizations, the Jamaican Nationals Association
(Washington DC) (JNA) and Partners of Good Shepherd Jamaica (POGS)are among
the hundreds, perhaps thousands of Jamaican Diaspora organizations impacting
the lives of tens of thousands of Jamaicans in the Homeland and in the
Diaspora. According to Ambassador Curtis A. Ward, the work of most Diaspora
organizations are seldom reported in the media and their impact are never
measured except by those who receive their help and support.
Ambassador Ward, expressed that very little is heard of their work, hence,
CaribNation TV hopes to shed a flicker of light on their value to our
societies by highlighting the work of Jamaican Diaspora organizations, not
only of the big headliners but those with big hearts. Sometimes the ‘widow’s
mite’ makes a big difference.
The time for the interviews were limited to about 14 minutes each so they
didn’t have enough time to get into some of the things they do and the
impact of their work. For example, JNA recently started a partnership of
support with the Jamaica Cancer Society Branches in St. Ann and St. Mary;
and participates in social services in Silver Spring, Maryland to help the
homeless and people of need by providing basic social services, including
meals, medical support, clothing, and other social services, as well as
providing volunteers to serve lunch in the “soup kitchen”.
Both organizations provide scholarships to Jamaican tertiary students –
JNA in the DMV area, and POGS in Jamaica.
Also, in addition to the $70,000 US dollars contributed to Jamaican
charities directly by POGS over the past six years, the President of POGS
herself inspired and participates in mission trips to Jamaica by her church,
St. Andrew Apostolic Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, led by the
Rev. Daniel Leary, to build houses at Jacob’s Ladder, a Mustard Seed
community in Moneague, St Ann. The St. Andrew Church makes up to four
Mission trips each year to Jamaica and has so far built four houses with
each accommodating 12 residents. They plan on building several more. Also,
the St. Andrew Mission has helped to empower the residents of Jacob’s
Ladder, by providing accessible well water and technical assistance to grow
food to help feed themselves. POGS on its own will be financing and building
one of these homes at Jacob’s Ladder.
Please find below, a link to the video. Also, please visit our websites
and we duly ask for your support.