Jamaica Tourist Board laces up in support of Helping Hands Jamaica

Source: Michael Pihach, PAX

“We believe that giving children a gift of education is the best gift we can give to Jamaica and the community,” said Angella Bennett, regional director for Canada at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

The JTB talked the talk, and walked the walk, on Saturday (Sept. 26) as a presenting sponsor at “Jam-Walk 2020,” a 5 km fundraiser in support of the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation’s school-building efforts in Jamaican communities.

The lively walkathon, which started at Palais Royale on Lakeshore Boulevard West and then proceeded along the Lake Ontario-facing Martin Goodman Trail to the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and back, aimed to raise funds for the foundation’s 23rd school, set to be built in Port Antonio, Jamaica, in July of 2021.

Saturday marked the organization's 11th annual fundraiser, which raised more than $37,000.

“All donations go back to Jamaica and helps build a school in a rural community that needs support,” Bennett told PAX at the sunny Saturday morning event, which drew roughly 60 people. “For us, it is a perfect project.”

For more than ten years, Helping Hands Jamaica has built 22 schools in Jamaica, raising more than $2 million dollars and improving the lives of generations.

One to two times a year, the organization takes a team of some 25 volunteers to Jamaica to build a school – to help with everything from nail hammering to door installations to painting – alongside a crew of local construction workers.

“We have a dedication where the principal and students come out and we get to hand the school over to the community,” said Natasha Borota, president of the It Factor Ltd, which manages the builds. “Not only are we providing access to education for kids in need in a third-world country, but we are also giving them a place in the community where elders can meet, where they can have opportunities to have votes, or have after-school programs.”

“It’s a safe place that’s conducive to learning,” said Borota.

Helping Hands Jamaica organizes the logistics for the voluntourism trips, which typically happen off season.

“It’s an experience where you’re immersed in the culture, the food, the music, and the people,” said Borota. “It’s unbelievable team building.”

This year’s trip was, unfortunately, cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the organization still managed to fulfill its commitments to funding the construction of St. Martin Infant and Primary in St. Mary, Jamaica, which was completed by local workers and will open in October.

Funds for their 2021 build in Port Antonio, which is located on the northeastern coast of Jamaica about 100 km from Kingston, are ready to go, said Borota, noting that the foundation for the new school will be completed in the coming months.

“People go down there and fall in love with the culture and the people. They form relationships,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people have gone on more than one school build.”

THE JOY OF VOLUNTOURISM

Bennett describes Port Antonio as a small community where access to electricity and internet is limited.

“For those in rural communities, they need this project more than ever,” she said, calling Port Antonio one of Jamaica’s “best kept secrets.”

“It’s not a touristy town, but it’s a town worth exploring,” she said.

She said travel advisors are in a perfect position to engage in voluntourism.

“They can join forces with these organizations, and when going down on a FAM, they can book an extra day to help the community,” said Bennett. “It’s that extra leg of what travel agents are looking for – that connection between the country, its people and how we promote it.”

Travel agents are welcome to connect with the JTB for information on ways to get involved, she said.

THE MONTHS AHEAD

As for the state of travel to Jamaica, which reopened its borders to tourism on June 15th with strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Bennett applauded those key Canadian airline partners for their readiness in providing lift to the destination.

While Canada’s 14-day quarantine order remains a challenge, there’s still a “good amount” of air seats to start, said Bennett.

Furthermore, the JTB will be launching a new campaign on October 5th in Canada to inspire travel to Jamaica.

“This winter, if we don’t make it, we’re going to be in trouble,” said Bennett. “The economy is in a really fragile state. We have to use tourism as the base to this recovery plan.”

This is based on the premise that people will feel comfortable travelling because of the comprehensive protocols Jamaica’s government, private sector and hotels have put in place to keep guests safe, she said.

“We have had no cases of COVID-19 in the hotels between a guest and a hotel worker to this date,” said Bennett. “This speaks volumes to the fact that the protocols do work.”

For more on Helping Hands Jamaica, click here.