Student Support Initiatives of the Daughters of Sheba Foundation is our first campaign of 2021.
Our aim is to help with the challenges faced by some Jamaican mothers to send their children to school. The high cost of uniforms, shoes and books are major hurdles for parents. Before that, school fees are a great expense they have to get the children educated.
In Jamaica, the common view is that education is free. I will hasten to say that, that is not the case. From as early as basic school, parents have to pay a contribution at the school to offset payment to teachers, especially those who are not paid by the Ministry of Education. As young as these children are their parents do have to buy materials for them to use in classes.” From the Jamaica Observer
Student Support Initiatives
Our activities are 95% of the time focusing on women and their children. We are mothers and grandmothers first and foremost. Therefore, we understand the emotional anguish of not being able to provide educational opportunities for your child.
As a young organization, we know we cannot help every Jamaican mother with educational costs. However, we would like to support at least one-at-a-time, through this Student Support Campaign.
Our focus is on basic and primary school-aged students – children between five and twelve years old.
Objectives
With this in mind, we launched our Student Support Initiatives Campaign with the following objectives.
- Assist selected unemployed or underemployed mothers with school fees, one term at a time.
- Subsidize the cost of school lunches for a child for the school term
- Provide annual grants through book stores (whether school run or privately owned) to help with the cost of required material.
How Can You Help?
Glad that you asked. 😏
You can help us provide these supports one of three ways:
- Make a one-time contribution of C$50
- Donate C$10
- Commit to a monthly/recurring donation of C$30 (cancel at any time)
- Donate a lump sum of C$150 for the year
Accountability
There are costs associated with administering any programme and here at Daughters of Sheba Foundation, our commitment to donors is being accountable.
Rest assured that your donations will be dedicated to providing the supports of this campaign. Administrative costs related to this campaign will mainly be bank fees and charges to send payments to schools and/or book stores. Our Treasurer, Gloria Rose-Saunders, upon reasonable requests by donors, will provide copies financial report for this campaign.
Updates – 2021
This page is regularly updated, stating the children selected and the type and level of support being given.
Mikkayla – Kingston, Jamaica
The first recipient of this Campaign is Mikkayla. She is a nine-year-old preparatory school student in Kingston, Jamaica.
Our initial interest with Mikkayla was to subsidize the cost of school lunches for her. We were advised that she shares a lunch from the school’s canteen with her mother each school day. This actually does not give her a full meal. Often she goes without lunch or eats late due to the conflict in her class schedule and her mother’s availability.
Due to COVID-19, only 125 schools in Jamaica have in-class sessions. Mikkayla’s school is not one of them. She will continue to participate in online sessions.
Her mother asked us to instead support her with school fees for this term. She has an outstanding balance and the new term’s fees are due on January 6, 2021.
From resources already on hand, we paid her school fees for the January – April 2021 term. The amount paid to the Hagley Park Preparatory was J$17,500 (approximately C$175).
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We are finalizing the selection of students at the Seaside Primary School for our School Lunch Programme. The Principal, Mr Adli Lewis, is currently processing among the neediest of children to select two (2) for our support.
It costs approximately C$400 per year to feed children through the school’s canteen. At this time, we have enough resources to provide lunches for two (2) students for one school term. They are expected to start this lunch programme as of February 1, 2021.
Would you please help us by donating any amount that you can?
DUE TO THE CLIMBING NUMBERS OF CASES INFECTED WITH COVID-19, SCHOOLS IN JAMAICA ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS ONCE AGAIN TO IN-CLASS SESSIONS. AS SUCH, WE HAVE SUSPENDED THE SCHOOL LUNCH CAMPAIGN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
CHILDREN WILL, HOWEVER, NEED OTHER SUPPORT – WITH BOOKS & SUPPLIES AS WELL AS WITH FEES SO YOUR DONATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED.
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We are always working quietly in the background, figuring out how best to provide support and to whom.
Earlier this year, we announced that we would be undertaking a “Back To School” Initiative for September 2021 for Jamaica. Whether they are physically in class or doing online sessions, children will need to fully return to their educational pursuit this year. However, many Jamaican parents are strapped for cash as they have been out of work or limited employment.
The Daughters of Sheba Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization is pleased to announce that we will be funding the September School Fees for these two students, Mikkayla and Shawayne. They both live in Kingston, Jamaica. (Due to security and privacy reasons, we are not disclosing their school).
Mikkayla is not new to us. We supported her mother with a Christmas Meal Basket in 2020 and also paid Mikkayla’s school fees in April 2021. We are committed to seeing her through for as long as possible. Her mother has consented, in writing, to this announcement.
Shawayne and his grandmother are new to our services. He attends the same school as Mikkayla and will be entering the 6th Grade. His grandmother has consented, in writing, to this announcement.
We need at least C$525 to assist these students’ mothers and guardians with their school fees for September 2021.
Update: The school fees were paid for Mikkayla and Shawayne and they are currently back at school! Thanks to all who supported us on this project.
Please donate today! ⬇️⬇️
