They’ve given impoverished children their first ever playpark and dream days out to the beach.
Now the Richmond-based Fundamentals for Change Society (FFC) is aiming to empower the youth leaders in the Kingston community in Jamaica by gathering as many donations for new and used laptops as possible before journeying to the Caribbean on Nov. 5.
The group, all volunteers from Richmond, is hoping to either raise enough money for at least four laptops – or receive gently used ones – to gift to the Youth Leadership Committee in Riverton, Kingston.
The youth group in Jamaica has just set up base in an old shipping container and the hope is that the laptops will help them with homework, research, resumes and with their outreach programs, which includes helping the elderly people in their community.
“We don’t have any yet, so we’re really hoping someone is willing to donate funds or a gently used laptop, with a charger,” said FFC’s founder Ayako Turnbull.
“(The youth group) do have a homework club with a couple of really old computers but the wi-fi is terrible and it takes them ages to do the simplest things.
“If we have enough money, we may also sponsor a wi-fi upgrade as it really sucks down there.” Turnbull said the trip, following a similar one a year ago to help build a school playground funded by FFC and take down $4,000 worth of medical supplies, will check the three boxes that drive FFC.
“Education: It’s an isolated community, so (the laptops) can provide them with knowledge,” she said.
“Empowerment: This kind of thing can break the cycle of poverty. Play: We are also planning on taking the kids to the beach for the day.”
As well as McMath secondary grad Turnbull, Jeff Kuzik, Allan Chin and Feven Berhane are making the trip to Jamaica in a couple of weeks. The group will also help carry out maintenance work on the playground they helped fund and build last year.
If you can help, email [email protected].
