J’can-Canadian charity going Beyond Borders for Prospect Primary
J’can-Canadian charity going Beyond Borders for Prospect Primary . Prospect Primary School, located in deep rural Clarendon, is set to benefit from the installation of a fully functional, state-of-the-art computer lab as a result of a fundraising and empowerment symposium by hosted by Jamaican-Canadian charity...
The Gleaner
Prospect Primary School, located in deep rural Clarendon, is set to benefit from the installation of a fully functional, state-of-the-art computer lab as a result of a fundraising and empowerment symposium by hosted by Jamaican-Canadian charity Amazing Prospects.

The event, dubbed ‘Beyond Borders: Igniting the Spark Within You’, was launched on Sunday at the Rituals Coffee House Shop 5, Village Plaza in St Andrew.

The Jamaican-Canadian hybrid empowerment symposium is scheduled for January 25 in Jamaica and Kimesha Walters, CEO, Oasis Integrated Communications and founder of Amazing Prospects, told The Gleaner she is working with a January month-end timeline to outfit the computer lab.

“On January 25, we are going to have an event, but it’s not just an event, it’s beyond that. It’s a movement that caters to Jamaicans, Jamaican-Canadians and people across the world who want more for themselves. We are looking for the change makers, the trailblazers, those people who are tired of doing the same thing, who need a change and want to make their lives better, to break the negative cycle of lack and not having generational wealth so they can improve, grow and do better for themselves and their families,” Walters said.

The symposium is tied suitably with the charity that was created in 2010 to give back to Walters’ alma mater, Prospect Primary.

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“All the proceeds from the event will go back to the charity, so for those people who come on board and they are looking to benefit, it’s a win-win. You get to be uplifted, empowered, closer to your goals and the life that you are dreaming about as well as you are contributing to charity in the process,” Walters said.

Walters, the 2024 Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Grant awardee, said speakers from Jamaica and Jamaican-Canadians living in Canada will chart the course for empowerment, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

“Those are three of the key things we are looking at. You will get to hear personal stories from people who have left Jamaica to go overseas and they have done it big. People like Dwania Peele, who is the founder of the Canadian Small Businesswomen; Evelyn Myrie, who is the founder and CEO of Empower Strategy Group, she is a Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee winner; and Andre Smith, founder of the Flip Academy, who is the 2024 winner of the BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year, Technology Industry award. We have a rich lineup of people,” Walters said.

Amazing Prospects is seeking to raise CAD$10,000 (J$1.2 million) to outfit the space at Prospect Primary.

“We need an AC unit, we need to brighten the space, we need some cushions and, of course, the computers themselves so that we can move things forward for the kids. We have some generous supporters of the charity who will be matching any money we raise,” Walters told The Gleaner.

Gareth Gordon, acting principal of Prospect Primary, said because of the institution’s geographical location, the students are not exposed.

“The idea is to make sure they have equity with all the other stakeholders, all the other schools. We are going big at that, every opportunity. We may not be able to get a big bus to get everybody in and out, but in every way [we want] to expose these kids,” Gordon said, adding it is important to get the children ready for the world of tomorrow.

Gordon said that, when the young children start to spread their wings, contributors will get a sense of pride.

Donna Smith, managing director of Rituals Coffee House, gave the Amazing Prospects charity a $50,000 one-time contribution during Sunday’s launch.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica
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2024-12-17
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Prospect Primary School, located in deep rural Clarendon, is set to benefit from the installation of a fully functional, state-of-the-art computer lab as a result of a fundraising and empowerment symposium by hosted by Jamaican-Canadian charity...
J’can-Canadian charity going Beyond Borders for Prospect Primary