JAMAICA
PROJECTS
Our Supported Projects
Sandals Foundation has implemented and supported projects and initiatives that support the development of the local communities, the enhancement of educational programmes and preservation of the environment within Jamaica.
Great Shape Dental Eye Care Program’
Marine Sanctuaries
Construction & upgrades to local schools
Our Programs & Projects
community
flanker peace & Justice Centre
The Sandals Foundation works in the inner city community of Flanker with approximately 300 students who use the Justice Centre each month. The Afterschool Care and Extended Support (ACES) Programme was introduced by Sandals Foundation to ensure a safe, structured environment in which at-risk youth from the community can benefit from dedicated counselling and mentorship, guided support with their school work and assignments and participation in supervised afternoon activities which encourage positive social behaviour.
The Sandals/Flanker Training and Recruitment Tier program has provided jobs and scholarships; hosted health fairs and promoted literacy enhancement.
community
great shape
dental & eye care program
Each year the list of volunteers include ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, optical technicians, nurses and non-eye care professional volunteers from the United States and Canada to participate in the weeklong clinic, made possible through partnerships with the Sandals Foundation and other local partners.
iCARE has also partnered with the Cornwall Regional Hospital to perform up to 50 cataract surgeries free of cost for those most in need.
Together Great Shape Dental and Eye Care programmes have impacted over 150,000 people in Jamaica. READ MORE
environment
marine sanctuaries
The Sandals Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, fully operates and manages two marine sanctuaries in Jamaica, the Boscobel and Whitehouse Marine Sanctuary.
The Marine Sanctuaries help to improve fish stock in the decreasing Jamaican Fisheries, as well as educate about the value of marine life preservation and the livelihoods of local fishermen.
The Boscobel Sanctuary has been fully operational since May 2013 with a 333% increase in fish biomass in 2015. The Whitehouse Marine Sanctuary has been fully operational since May 2015.
environment
turtle conservation
For this project to be sustainable the Sandals Foundation initiated several educational campaigns for visitor, team members and school children for them to understand the importance of turtle conservation and the role each person plays. In addition, team members have also been educated on what they should do when turtle lay eggs on any of the Sandals or Beaches Resorts properties.
Guests in the Ocho Rios area can participate in the turtle tour where they are able to visit Gibraltar beach and and learn about sea turtles and baby sea turtles as well as watch them return to the sea.
environment
coral nurseries
Sandals Foundation partnered with CARIBSAVE, Coral Restoration Foundation and Bluefield’s Fisherman’s friendly society to construct two coral nurseries in Jamaica within the Bluefield’s bay Marine sanctuary and the Boscobel Marine sanctuary. Together these coral nurseries grow over 3000 pieces of coral per year. The Boscobel Coral nursery managed by the Sandals Foundation has so far out planted over 700 pieces of coral.
Coral coverage in the Caribbean has dropped by up to 90%. Coral nurseries help to restore coral coverage by growing healthy, fast growing corals and replanting them back onto reef structures. This helps provide habitat for marine life as well as helps to protect our coastlines from erosion.
education
project sprout
The Sandals Foundation has embarked on an early stimulation project entitled Project Sprout. The Project was created in response to the need for early interventions at the basic level of the education system that will prevent or remediate inadequate student readiness.
Through targeted interventions, teacher quality and effectiveness improves, parenting skills are strengthened and school-based activities are engaged at the home, enhancing the learning environment. Sprout targets students ages 3-5 years and is active in 5 schools: Leanora Morris Basic, Culloden ECI, Seville Golden Pre-School, King’s Primary, Moneague Teachers College Basic School.
education
west end infant school
The Sandals Foundation in partnership with CHASE Fund has collaborated to fund the construction of West End Infant School in Negril, Westmoreland. This initiative is a product of Sandals Foundation’s recognition of the need for an institution to support Early Childhood Education (ECE).
The building of West End Infant School is a Ministry of Education (MOE) endorsed project which addresses the issue of upgrades to infrastructure, adequate space and the safety of children in classrooms, also the need for improved pedagogical skills among the regions teachers.
The completed Infant School will provide the opportunity for children ages 3-6 in and around that community to access quality early childhood education in a supportive learning environment.