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programme. The revamped scholarship programme now has a longer term strategic approach with the goal of increasing the number of persons receiving bursaries from the programme. In 2017, over 100 children from communities surrounding J. Wray & Nephew’s operations in Kingston, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth were eligible for grants. This represented a quadrupling of the number of persons receiving an opportunity to improve their lives through education when compared to 2016.
The JWN Foundation ended 2017 with a flourish by hosting a series of fantastic Christmas treats in Kingston, Appleton and New Yarmouth. The treats were held under the theme ‘Building Your Spirit – Dare to Be....’ encouraging self-awareness and self confidence among the grade six students at the primary schools in our communities.
The first stop for the JWN Foundation team was the Appleton Basic School. Squeals of delight filled the air as 115 children played games, enjoyed sno-cones, popcorn and rides. Each child also received a Christ- mas gift, bringing a fun-filled day to an end.
The next stop in the JWNF Christmas treat series was in Kingston at the Hope Zoo. The location was transformed into a Christmas wonderland with music, rides, games and face painting. MC Emprezz Golding also played her part in inspiring the grade
six students of Seaview Gardens Primary, St. Patrick’s Primary, Seaward Primary and Balmagie Primary School youth to be the best versions of themselves.
The final stop in the JWNF Christmas treat series was extra special. This is the first year that a treat was being held at the New Yarmouth Estate in Clarendon, reaffirming the JWN Foundation’s commitment to engaging all its communities and impacting lives. The grade six students from Race Course Primary and Gimme-Me-Bit Primary schools got their oppor- tunity to revel in the magic of the yuletide season with games, face painting, playful dance battles and motivational sessions. If the smiles on the faces of the children were anything to go by, this first edition of the Christmas treat in New Yarmouth was a success.
Overall the JWN Foundation activities in 2017 were a success and new targets will be set to increase the number of lives and communities being transformed.