PriceSmart Foundation says grant support is now available to non-profit organisations in Kingston and St. Catherine as it commits to investing in opportunity and access for communities where PriceSmart operates.

Beginning in January 2024, five organisations – Children First Agency, Forward Step Foundation, Multi-Care Youth Foundation, RISE Life Management Services and Young Women and Men of Purpose – will receive funding for initiatives that will positively impact the lives of children, youth, and women.

The supported activities will focus on life skills, resiliency and problem-solving for primary school children and parenting skills development; employability preparation for at-risk youth and PEP exam preparation for primary school children; vocational training, internships, mentorship, and job placement support for youth; an afterschool program for primary school students; and an entrepreneurship development program for young women, respectively. 

These projects align with PriceSmart Foundation’s objective to transform lives and communities by investing in youth development, economic opportunity, and community and environmental resilience. 

Angela Venza, director of international grantmaking, PriceSmart Foundation expressed that PriceSmart Foundation is excited to begin supporting projects in Jamaica. She said, “PriceSmart Foundation believes in the strength of local interventions to address community needs. Local organisations play a key role in assisting the PriceSmart Foundation to identify priority needs and implement solutions. We look forward to seeing the impact and capturing the lessons learned that can inform PriceSmart Foundation’s continued commitment to Jamaica.”  

Alicia Glasgow Gentles, executive director of MultiCare Youth Foundation, said, “The MultiCare Youth Foundation is thrilled to be collaborating with PriceSmart Foundation as we embark on a specially designed initiative to facilitate positive transformation in the lives of young people who are at-risk of involvement in crime and violence and/or victimisation.”

“We look forward to creating holistic and tailored opportunities for youth empowerment that lead to positive change while bolstering crime and violence prevention and contributing to national efforts to achieve sustainable development,” she continued. 

Claudette Richardson-Pious, executive director for the Children First Agency, said, “The support from PriceSmart Foundation is greatly needed based on the vulnerabilities of the communities that we serve. Children First Agency’s mission will be enhanced through this collaboration by engaging children and parents in activities fostering creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, personal growth, trauma processing, and strengthening familial bonds. Children and parents will have increased knowledge, skills, and capacities, enabling them to flourish despite their current realities.”