• Food and Nutrition Program
  
• Daily Breakfast Nutrition Program
  
• Scholarships & Examination Fees
  
• Books, Supplies & Equipment
• Computers & Technology
  
• CCJ Miscellaneous Contributions
  

The Food and Nutrition Program
(past program)

Feeding Bodies = Feeding Minds

Why We Need Your Help

A child aged 7 or 8 or 11 - perhaps a girl, perhaps a boy, perhaps named Monica, perhaps Derrick - comes to school willing and ready to learn. But this child's stomach is empty and grumbling. He or she has not eaten for more than 16 hours because the family cannot afford breakfast. Derrick or Monica cannot really pay attention to the teacher. The lesson is swallowed up by hunger pains.

Researchers at Harvard Medical/Massachusetts General Hospital found that hungry children are more likely to have behavioral and academic problems than children who get enough to eat. At school, hungry children have more problems with irritability, anxiety and aggression, as well as more absences and tardiness than children who are properly fed (Pediatrics, January 1998).

A study was conducted in Jamaica to measure scholastic achievement of one hundred and fifteen 12-13 year olds in a poor, rural Jamaican school in 1983. the result of the study concluded that children receiving school breakfast outperformed students who did not participate in the breakfast program in arithmetic and school attendance (Hum Nutr Clin Nutr, 1983).

Sadly, there are all too many schools in every country where children come to class hungry. But "the longest journey starts with a single step." You can help Chicago Concerned Jamaicans (CCJ) make the difference for Monica or Derrick and many other children in Jamaica.

The Breakfast Nutrition Program
(pilot program)

CCJ has identified a school in a deeply impoverished area of Kingston, Jamaica, where a great many of the children (ages 6-12) come to school every day without any breakfast, let alone a nutritious breakfast. It is the story of an empty school pantry, a struggling community and the hope of Jamaica's most precious gems - our children.

CCJ worked with the Staff Community Development Foundation of Grace, Kennedy & Co. Ltd., obtaining additional support from Dairy Industries Co. Ltd. of Jamaica, to provide a Daily Breakfast Program for the students in that school whom the principal and teachers identify as especially needing extra nutrition.
CCJ has committed $110,000 (JA$) to funding this program for the school year 2000-2001
Grace Kennedy & Dairy Industries Co., have committed other funds and resources, including professional nutritionists to advise on tasty, healthy and well-balanced breakfast selections, a social worker to monitor program implementation, which includes food at cost, and free delivery and daily administration of the program.

Our goals are:
To provide a varied, nutritious and appetizing breakfast in the coming year to help 150-200 students get a healthy and enjoyable start for each day.
To ensure that these meals provide at least one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowance of nutrients for each child, and that these nutrients are professionally selected to provide a balanced diet with no "empty calories."

Scholarships and Examination Fees

Since 1992, this organization has paid examination fees for students who would otherwise not have been able to take the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations, which are essential for high-school graduation and also entrance to college. Since the commencement of the scholarship program in 1996, CCJ has funded numerous scholarships to individual students.

One recipient of CXC fees in 1998 responded this way: "I would like to encourage you to keep up the great work you are presently doing so that other young Jamaicans may benefit from CCJ's generosity."

Comments like this continue to inspire CCJ members to expand our scholarship program.

Books Supplies and Equipment

Through our efforts and those of supporting benefactors, CCJ has been able to furnish copiers, printers, electronic typewriters, kitchen equipment and a wide variety of school supplies and books to 33 schools throughout the island.

Books & supplies - Shipped 60 boxes of educational supplies and books to several schools in Jamaica. Donated 13 boxes of books to build and complement the libraries at Little Bay All Age School in Westmoreland, New Green in Manchester and Port Royal in Kingston. Several cash donations were awarded to selected schools to purchase paper and school supplies. A cash donation was given to Liecesterfield All Age School for classroom supplies.
Equipment - CCJ has donated two copy machines for each of the following schools: May Pen All Age School in Clarendon and Little Bay All Age School in Westmoreland. In addition, $5,000 (US) was donated to four other schools to purchase copy machines. Liecesterfield All Age School was equipped with a new kitchen that includes stove and refrigerator. Several cash donations were awarded to selected schools to purchase copy machines and toner cartridges.
CCJ was made aware of a severe learning problem at the Liecesterfield All Age School in Clarendon and opened an investigation into the cause. As a result, it was found that students at this school needed to have their eyes tested, and needed to have a proper lunch each day. CCJ contracted with an opthamologist from Mandeville to go to the school and evaluate the students, and the opthamologist concluded that 82 of the 105 students and fur teachers desperately needed eye glasses. CCJ agreed and contracted to provide these glasses at a total cost of $25,560 (US). Next CCJ purchased materials to remodel the kitchen and contracted an appliance company to install a new gas stove, refrigerator, and freezer. With the help of CCJ members who have traveled to the school and our local committee, we assisted the school in starting a lunch program supported by the local community.
Through the generosity of corporations like Baxter International, Northwestern University, Manchester Realty, Caribbean Baking Company and others, CCJ has donated 103 computers, 23 printers, and assorted software to schools in Jamaica.
In 1996 CCJ embarked on a project to install state of the art internet equipment in all 14 public libraries; the plan called for one each new high end computer with high speed modem, laser printer/Fax combo machine flat bed scanner, and Microsoft Office for each library. To date, we have equipped ten: Kingston Public, May Pen, Mandeville, Morrant Bay, St. Elizabeth, St. Anns Bay, Trelawny, Montego Bay, St. Mary and Portland, and other four parishes are slated to the completed next year (2003).

Computers and Technology

As Jamaica faces the challenge of a country with very limited financial resources trying to give citizens access to the Information Superhighway, CCJ is helping. We are working with the Jamaican Library Service to equip public libraries with computers, scanners, fax machines, printers, high-speed modems, and all software required for full Internet access.

Computers & Technology in schools - 18 computers were distributed to the following schools: Maud McCalla All Age School in Westmoreland; St. Jago High School in St. Catherine; Charlie Smith All Age in Kingston; Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, and Bellefield Comprehensive High School in Manchester. Transportation was provided courtesy of Air Jamaica to transport an additional 87 computers to Jamaica donated by various individuals and companies including Baxter International and Northwestern University. The Rotary club was instrumental in upgrading and distributing some of the computers to schools in Jamaica. Approximately 20 printers, 15 electronic typewriters and assorted software were distributed to several schools in Jamaica.
Computers & Technology in libraries - In the completed Phase 3 of the Library Program, CCJ has installed 3 computers with Internet access, scanners, facsimile machines, and printers to libraries in Kingston, Mandeville, and Morant Bay. Our goal is to install similar computer suites in all public libraries on the island.

CCJ Miscellaneous Contributions

Chicago Concerned Jamaicans Inc., through its initiatives, has touched the lives of others through its many contributions to the social and economic development in Jamaica and the US.

Vision
During 1992, in response to specific need, CCJ provided funding for eye examinations for Liecesterfield All Age students that resulted in 80 students and 4 teachers being outfitted with eyeglasses. Total cost for the examinations and glasses were paid for by CCJ.
Medical
Medical supplies, equipment and funding for air conditioning were provided to Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth.
X-ray machine and medical supplies donated to Haitian Americans of Illinois to be sent to Haiti.
Disaster Relief
In 1992, cash contributions to victims of Hurricane Andrew in South Florida
1993, cash contributions to Flood Relief Fund in Jamaica
1997 cash contributions to the American Red Cross on behalf of victims of the volcano eruption on the island of Montserrat