JAMAICA
Greater Negril Area:
Broughton Basic School is a Basic school in the greater Negril area of Little London. The school serves 50+ students between 4-8 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, backpacks, arts & crafts supplies, puzzles, games, English flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials, age appropriate English language story books, jump ropes, soccer balls and other items. The school benefits from donations from the Smile For A Child program and Pack for a Purpose program at White Sands Negril. For more information about helping, email info@whitesandsnegril.com or call White Sands Negril at 876-957-4291.
Sandy Bay Basic School is located along the main road leading to Negril. This is a basic school for over 80 children between 3-7 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, and other items; CD player with educational CDs; tape players and educational cassettes with songs or stories to teach time, letters, numbers, etc.; puzzles; games; flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials; cooking and serving utensils; plastic plates, forks and spoons; and other items. Chef Thompson Tours does considerable work with this school. To learn more, visit their website at ChefTours.com. For more information on the needs of this school, contact Libby at libbytours@yahoo.com or at cheftours@gmail.com. You can also reach Libby at 876-385-5885.
Savanna-La-Mar Hospital is a 150-bed public hospital approximately 20 minutes away from Negril. Their Pediatric Ward and Maternity Wards need supplies and donations for the families and children there, including disposable diapers, sheets, baby blankets, baby clothes, wash cloths, soap, personal care items, diaper rash creams, Neosporin, hydrocortisone creams, and other items. The hospital is located on Barracks Road and their phone number is (876) 955-2133 or 955-2533.
Island Routes offers visitors to the Negril area the opportunity to go on a Reading Road Trip and help local school children through their 'Community Routes Program.' Participants will interact with children at a local school, read a story to a small group of school children ages 3-10 years of age, and help school children improve their listening and comprehension skills. Donations of age-appropriate books to the school's library are warmly welcomed. For more information on this volunteer program, visit: IslandRoutes Reading Road Trip Jamaica.
There are many other basic schools, primary schools and high schools located in this region. You can arrange for a visit on your own, or tour and transportation companies can arrange for visits to orphanages and local schools in the area. Some of these that do this on a regular basis are Talk of the Town Tours, Chef Thompson Tours (talk with Libby), Lee's Taxi and Tours (talk with Norma), and Clive's Transport Service (talk with Clive Gordon).
Mandeville and the South Coast:
St. John Bosco Boys Home is located in Mandeville. The Home is owned and operated by the Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic order of Nuns committed to working with the poor, sick and uneducated. The Home operates a school and residential program and educates and cares for approximately 160 boys ranging in age from 6-18+. Needs include school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pens, crayons, calculators, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, educational puzzles, flash cards, books, interactive learning software, personal care items, toiletries, sports equipment, new or gently used clothing, children's and adults Tylenol, Neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, and other items. Volunteers are also needed to help at the school. For more information, visit the Home's website at http://www.stjohnbosco.net/ or call (876) 963-0611 or email Sister Susan Frazer, Director, at suefrsm@msn.com or Sister Miriam Krusling at mkruslingrsm@yahoo.com. Their telephone number is 876-963-0611 and their fax number is 876-963-0135.
Island Routes offers visitors to Jamaica's South Coast the chance to go on a Reading Road Trip and help local school children through their 'Community Routes Program.' Participants will interact with children at a local school, read a story to a small group of school children ages 3-10 years of age, and help school children improve their listening and comprehension skills. Donations of age-appropriate books to the school's library are warmly welcomed. For more information on this volunteer program, visit: IslandRoutes Reading Road Trip Jamaica
Montego Bay Area:
Anchovy School is a basic school serving students located in Anchovy, a more rural area outside of Montego Bay. This is a convenient school to visit if you are planning to visit the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, also located in Anchovy. The school serves children between 3-7 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, backpacks, and other items, CD player with educational CDs, tape players with educational cassettes, puzzles, games, flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials. The school's telephone number is (876) 956-4180.
Blossom Garden’s Child Care Centre is located on a hill above Montego Bay and houses 50-60 children from birth through ten years of age. The administrator for this orphanage is Mrs. Brown, and she can be contacted at (876) 952-6068 Monday through Friday or by e-mail at blossomgch@yahoo.com. Please contact the orphanage at least two weeks in advance if you are interested in volunteering. The Child Care Centre also houses a basic school for the children between 4-8 years of age. The orphanage warmly welcomes visits and donations. Contact Mrs. Brown at least 10 days in advance of your visit to let her know that you are coming and arrange for the best time to visit with the children. The orphanage’s needs include baby clothes and children’s clothes, disposable diapers, baby wipes, children's shoes and socks, toys, water toys, books, children’s nursery items, crayons, modeling clay, reading books, backpacks, erasers, staplers, paper clips, glue sticks, phonic books, flash cards, educational tapes and CDs, tape players and CD players, puzzles, games, coloring books, activity books, construction paper, jump ropes, kites & balls, toys, band-aids, baby and children’s aspirins, children’s multi-vitamins, anti-bacterial creams and baby items. The address of the orphanage is 18-21 Appleton Hall, Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica. The orphanage is gated, so ring the bell to get in. The orphanage can be a bit difficult to find on one's own, so try to arrange for transportation in advance. Transportation possibilities include Lee's Taxi and Tours, Chef Thompson Tours, and Clive's Transport Service. For more information on the orphanage, visit: Blossom Gardens Child Care Centre.
Garland Hall Memorial Children's Home is an orphanage/children's home that is operated by the Jamaica Women's Baptist Federation. It is located in the Montego Bay by the Anchovy High School, about 15 minutes from Montego Bay. The home cares for up to 30 children, most between the ages of 9-13 years of age. The orphanage needs a wide variety of items including children's clothing, children' shoes and socks, personal care items, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, educational toys and games, backpacks and school supplies. Volunteers are also welcomed with advance notice. For more information, please see their website at: Garland Hall Memorial Children's Home. Please contact Mrs. Sydia Smith at (876) 956-4020 to check on their current needs or to arrange a time to volunteer or drop off items.
The SOS Children's Villages are located near Montego Bay. The SOS Children's Village facility is about a ½-hour drive from Montego Bay going towards Ocho Rios. Currently the Village accommodates approximately 70 children in 8 family houses. It also has a Kinder-Prep School, Youth Facility for girls, Training Facility, which also doubles as a Guest House, and accommodation for staff. There is also a Youth Facility for boys, which is located in Montego Bay outside the Village Facilities. The Village has a Computer Lab, a Library, and a Learning Centre for children with learning difficulties. The SOS Jane Viera School in Montego Bay has about 80 children in 4 classrooms. Children range from 3 years of age and up. Needs at the SOS Children’s Villages include children’s clothing, personal hygiene items, computer equipment, books, and skills training materials. For more information, visit the SOS Children’s Villages website at Sos Jamaica, or contact the SOS Children’s Village of Jamaica Foundation, 26 Peter Pan Avenue, P.O. Box 654, Montego Bay, Jamaica. The telephone number is (876) 952-6215 or (876) 979-5850 and the e-mail address is sos.Jamaica@cwjamaica.com.
Island Routes offers visitors to Montego Bay the opportunity to go on a Reading Road Trip and help local school children through their 'Community Routes Program.' Participants will interact with children at a local school, read a story to a small group of school children ages 3-10 years of age, and help school children improve their listening and comprehension skills. Donations of age-appropriate books to the school's library are warmly welcomed. For more information on this volunteer program, visit: IslandRoutes Reading Road Trip Jamaica
St. Ann's Bay/Runaway Bay/Ocho Rios area, Jamaica:
Salem Basic School is located in Runaway Bay. The school serves approximately 76 children between 3-6 years of age. The school's facilities are quite limited and a wide variety of supplies are needed, including pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, paint, paint brushes, children’s scissors, backpacks, and other items, CD player with educational CDs, tape players with educational cassettes, DVD player, puzzles, games, arts & crafts supplies, Legos, flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials. The school's telephone number is (876) 973-4969 or 876-353-0126. Visits are welcomed. The school is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but please call first to arrange a visit.
St. Ann's Bay Hospital is a public hospital serving the St. Ann's Bay and Runaway Bay areas. Their Pediatric Ward and Maternity Wards need supplies and donations for the families and children there, including disposable diapers, sheets, baby blankets, baby clothes, wash cloths, soap, personal care items, diaper rash creams, Neosporin, hydrocortisone creams, and other items. The contact information for the hospital is: St. Ann's Bay Hospital, Seville Road, St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, phone: 876-972-2272 or 876-972-2273.
Tobolski Basic School is located in Brown's Town, within St. Ann's Parish. The school serves about 68 students between the ages of 3-7. The school needs such items as pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, puzzles, games, stickers, flash cards, and other educational/phonics teaching materials. Sports equipment and musical instruments are also needed. The school's phone number is (876) 381-7881.
Island Routes offers visitors to Ocho Rios the opportunity to go on a Reading Road Trip and help local school children through their 'Community Routes Program.' Participants will interact with children at a local school, read a story to a small group of school children ages 3-10 years of age, and help school children improve their listening and comprehension skills. Donations of age-appropriate books to the school's library are warmly welcomed. For more information on this volunteer program, visit: IslandRoutes Reading Road Trip Jamaica.
Throughout Jamaica:
Great Shape! Inc. is a US 501-c3 charitable non-profit humanitarian organization that partners with the Sandals Foundation to help children and families in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The organization offers a variety of programs in health care and education. Volunteers are needed for education, dental and eye care programs. Read about the wide variety of volunteer programs available on their website. Donations of prescription glasses, dental equipment, school supplies and other items are also sought. Contact tiffany@gsjamaica.org for details. For more detailed information, please visit the organization's website at Great Shape Inc or call their offices in California at 510-893-1751.
Although Jamaica has a number of very modern and well-equipped primary and secondary schools, some of the schools in Jamaica are in desperate need of school supplies. One of TripAdvisor.com's Jamaica forum regulars put together a detailed contact list for many Basic schools located in Jamaica's most popular tourist areas. Basic schools serve local children between 3-7 years of age and some of these schools do not receive government funding. See this TripAdvisor.com link for more school listings and information: Jamaica: Contact info for Schools in Jamaica - TripAdvisor.
This same individual has also written an excellent article listing age-appropriate items needed by schools and orphanages in Jamaica, as well as some helpful tips for arranging visits and going through Jamaican customs. See this article for more details: Jamaica: Ideas For Helping Primary Schools - TripAdvisor.
Items that most schools can use include pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, colored markers, modeling clay, children's reading books, backpacks, paper clips, staplers, glue sticks, children's scissors, flash cards, educational CDs, puzzles, coloring books, activity books, stickers, construction paper, arts & crafts supplies, jump ropes, kites, balls, sporting goods equipment, band-aids, children's Tylenol, anti-bacterial creams, and children's vitamins.
You can arrange for a visit to a school on your own, or tour and transportation companies can arrange for visits to orphanages and local schools in the area. Some tour companies that do this on a regular basis are Talk of the Town Tours, Chef Thompson Tours (talk with Libby), Lee's Taxi and Tours (talk with Norma), and Clive's Transport Service (talk with Clive Gordon).
Additional Resources in Jamaica:
Pack for a Purpose works with a number of resorts and hotels in Jamaica to positively impact local organizations and communities. Check out the supply lists and drop off points on their website: Packforapurpose.org Jamaica.