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JPS, Jamaica's leading energy company, goes beyond providing electricity by actively supporting community development. Our Corporate Social Responsibility program focuses on Education, Youth Leadership, and Community Empowerment with a strong emphasis on Early Childhood Development. Since 2002, our Early Childhood Nutrition Programme has provided vital meals to over 26,487 children across 468 basic schools, addressing nutrition-related issues that hinder learning. The JPS Foundation is dedicated to improving educational standards and fostering community collaboration through sustainable initiatives.
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Who We Are • JPS is Jamaica’s energy company. • We provide service through a network of power plants, power delivery lines and customer service centres islandwide. • We have a customer base of approximately 600,000 residential and business customers. • But our connection to communities go beyond wires and poles: we believe in being part of the communities we serve.
How We Give Back • JPS’ Corporate Social Responsibility programme has included contributions to Education, Sports and Community Development. • In August this year we officially launched the JPS Foundation • The main areas of focus of the JPS Foundation are: • Education • Youth Leadership Development • Community Empowerment
Early Childhood Focus • Since 2002 JPS has been giving back through the JPSEarly Childhood Nutrition Programme. • The programme started when we were approached by a group of Basic Schools in Central Village. • The teachers indicated that Nutrition was one of the areas of greatest need. • Low levels of attendance, inattentiveness, and poor performance were common among the children - who were hungry most of the time.
Partnerships for Improved Nutrition The approach: • Partnerships with Community Basic Schools – which did not get the support provided for Infant Schools. • JPS would match Government subsidy through the Ministry of Education • Collaboration with Early Childhood Commission for school selection, monitoring and measurement, where possible. • The programme is administered through parish Clusters
Programme Expansion • JPS started out by matching Government subsidy, which now stands at $175 per child per year. • However, JPS now gives $400 per child per year. • On average, the Company spends approximately Ten Million Dollars (J $10 M) per year on this programme. • The programme now provides meals for 26,487 children in 468 basic schools in all parishes.
Building on the Programme • Creating Model Schools: • Building on the platform established by the Nutrition Programme. • JPS will be working with 3 early childhood institutions to help them meet the basic standards set by the ECC over a three-year period.
Important Points to Note • Accountability: • JPS does its own audit • The Principals submit reports to the ECC supervisors • Documentation is critical: receipts, etc required • Regular meetings with the Cluster groups • Challenges / Opportunities: • Parents stop contributing when they realise the school is getting support. • More integration of community farming groups • Measurement of results to be improved