JSH is a non-governmental, registered charitable organization based in Peterborough, Ontario.
Founded in 1978, JSH began as a volunteer based organization that worked with a Jamaican musical group to inform Canadians about inner city projects in Jamaica. Canadians responded by fundraising, collecting goods, and organizing awareness trips to Jamaica. JSH was incorporated in 1981. By 1983 the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) began to support the development work by providing matching funds.
Currently, JSH is working in partnership with sister organizations in Jamaica to help improve the living circumstances of Jamaican people by fostering self-sustaining programs such as literacy, skills training, agricultural training, community development, health care and sanitation and institutional strengthening. JSH currently assists 8 projects with funding and networking support. This alliance of Canadians and Jamaicans is contributing to the capacities of marginalized women, men and children to work towards self-reliance.
JSH works with several sister organizations that are recognized as institutional partners. The institutional partners are established Jamaican organizations that are self-managed and receive funding from various sources including JSH.
In the year 2000, the CIA estimated Jamaica's national external debt to be $4.7 billion. Jamaica reserves 62.4% of its budget for debt servicing. Presently, according to the United Nations Development Programme, 34% of Jamaicans fall below the poverty line (November, 2001). With the assistance of CIDA, donors and volunteers, JSH supported projects have grown in a continuous effort to foster the development of healthy Jamaican communities.
