Jamaican Self-Help (JSH) is a Canadian registered charitable non-government organization based in Peterborough, Ontario.

Founded in 1978, JSH began as a volunteer 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 1980. 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 community organizations and schools in Jamaica to help improve the living circumstances of Jamaican people by fostering self-sustaining programs such as literacy, skills training,

 

community development, health care and institutional strengthening. JSH currently assists 7 projects with funding, technical and networking support. Working together, this alliance of Canadians and Jamaicans contributes to building the capacities of marginalized women, men and children to work towards self-reliance.

Mission Statement

Jamaican Self-Help is an organization of Canadians working in solidarity to foster the development of healthy Jamaican communities through partnership based on mutual respect, understanding and a shared vision of self-determination; and foster an understanding of global forces North and South and their interconnectedness.

 

Staff

Marisa Kaczmarczyk - Executive Director
Heather Kenny - Office & Resources Manager
Fraser McDonald - Youth Engagement Co-ordinator

Charmaine Magumbe - Donor & Community Liaison

Board of Directors 2011-2012

Sarah McDougall - President

Caileigh McKnight - Past President

Marg Hundt - Vice President

Tucker Barton - Treasurer

Julia Anderson - Secretary
Pamela St. Onge - Director

Kim Kasperski- Director

Justin Reid - Director

Liz Sine - Director

Gillian Sandeman - Director

Joyce Mackenzie - Director

Steve Ross - Director

 

Recent Sponsors and Donors

Thanks to:

City of Peterborough-Community Investment Grant

Luke Four Foundation

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) - Peterborough & Provincial

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)

The Ontario Teacher's Federation (OTF)

The Ontario Trillium Foundation

Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation

The Pilkington-Henniger Charitable Trust

Sisters of St. Joseph

Trinity College School

All of our generous individual and group donors and volunteers

See Annual Report (in the "Newsletter" section) for other contributors.

Program undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)