Service-Learning: Volunteer Program in Kingston, Jamaica

Study Abroad integrated with Volunteer Service Volunter in Jamaica

Volunteer Service that Addresses Real Human Needs

You will volunteer 15-20 hours per week in a local agency or program. As you work with local people and care for those in need, you will find your experience and understanding of the culture enriched and deepened, and your leadership skills developed.

As a developing nation, Jamaica has a wide range of developmental concerns requiring social intervention. As a result, the volunteer service needs in Kingston are many and varied. They often include programs of tutoring, from pre-school through community college, helping children and young adults with basic literacy and coping skills; health care clinics, health education, and drug abuse programs that address medical issues; micro-business and women’s projects that contribute to community and economic development.

In Jamaica, you might:

supervise recreation at the YMCA
serve as a teacher’s aide in a primary school
work with at-risk adolescents
assist in health care, the arts, or community and economic development
work with recently released prisoners seeking re-entry to society
help with women’s projects
serve in other areas of need.

Volunteer Service Examples

Following are examples of agencies where IPSL students have served in the past or may be able to serve. Other service placements may be available. Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills.

Clinic serving lower-income groups and the poor

This clinic is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to serving lower income groups and the very poor. It offers medical, dental and optical care to needy Jamaicans and operates a pharmacy as well.

Population Served: Lower-income groups and the very poor
Areas of Service: Healthcare

Community development organization

The mission of this organization is to promote the advancement of extremely deprived communities in both urban and rural areas, to provide educational opportunities, including preparatory and vocational facilities, and to facilitate human development as an integral part of community development.

Population Served: Deprived and poor communities
Areas of Service: Teaching/tutoring / Education / Community development

Construction and development resource organization for inner-city communities

C.R.D.C. works toward providing improved sanitary facilities for inner-city communities. It fulfills a crucial role in the primary collection and publication of information on all aspects of shelter in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Population Served: Inner-city communities
Areas of Service: Community development / Construction

Jamaica Red Cross

This organization is the prime provider of relief in times of disaster- hurricane fire, earthquake, floods. Other services include provision of meals to the needy (“meals on wheels”), geriatric care health services (including caring for HIV persons), and training, especially in the schools.

Population Served: The needy, the elderly, those with HIV, and people affected by disasters
Areas of Service: Elderly / Food services/distribution / HIV/AIDS issues / Education

Mentor program and advocacy organization for adolescents

This is an organization which targets adolescents in the post-primary school system. It provides mentorship programmes aimed at building self-confidence and self-esteem, counseling and training. It supports schools in their goal of developing student leaders, and advocates for the rights of children and adolescents.

Population Served: Adolescents
Areas of Service: Teaching/tutoring / Children & Youth

Nondenominational organization dedicated to the evangelization of children

This is a nondenominational organization dedicated to the evangelisation of children through telephone counseling, radio programmes, school devotions, camps and Good News clubs. Its work is made possible through donations from well wishes and the services of volunteers. The main administrative office is in Kingston, but in each parish there are volunteers working with the children.

Population Served: Children
Areas of Service: Children & Youth / Counseling

Program for adolescent mothers

The main aim of this foundation is to provide programmes for adolescent mothers. It deals with problems associated with teenage pregnancy, interrupted education and low employment potential amongst young women.

Population Served: Adolescent mothers
Areas of Service: Children & Youth / Women's issues

Rehabilitation organization for ex-convicts and boys at risk

This is an organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of ex-convicts and boys at risk. It also operates a programme in prisons where prisoners are taught computer skills, preparing them for re-entry into the society at the end of their time in prison. Ex-convicts and young inner-city adolescents are taught automotive skills as well as computer skills, mathematics and literacy.

Population Served: Ex-convicts and boys at risk
Areas of Service: Education / Job training / Computers

School for adolescent girls

This is a non-residential school that caters to adolescent girls who are school dropouts or have gone through the traditional public schools, but are unemployable due to a lack of skills. The focus is on providing these girls with skills in housecraft, cosmetology, dressmaking and cookery, while strengthening the academics. Girls who graduate from the programme have in the past found employment in homes in countries as far away as Jordan. The training is structured to take care of the girls’ moral, spiritual and social needs.

Population Served: Adolescent girls who are school dropouts or who have no job skills
Areas of Service: Children & Youth / Education / Teaching/tutoring / Job training

Temporary shelter and services for “street” children

This center provides temporary shelter, health services, hot lunches, remedial education and basic vocational skills for “street” children. It is the only government-owned institution of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. It currently operates under the aegis of the Human Resource and Training/ National Training Agency (HEART/NTA) Trust.

Population Served: "Street" children
Areas of Service: Healthcare / Homelessness / Education / Teaching/tutoring / Children & Youth

Volunteer citizen’s action group

This is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-violent, volunteer citizens’ rights action group. It advocates for fundamental change in all spheres of Jamaican life – judicial, economic, educational, social and political – in order to improve lives of Jamaican citizens.

Population Served: Jamaican citizens
Areas of Service: Legal issues/aid

Y.M.C.A.

The Kingston YMCA aims to assist individuals in developing their capabilities and optimal citizens through the various programmes it offers. Programmes include a Youth Development Programme for school drop-outs and “street boys”, skills programmes, aquatic programmes for adults and school children, and leisure activities.

Population Served: Youth and adults in Kingston
Areas of Service: Children & Youth / Recreation

Y.W.C.A.

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA’s) primary focus is on youth-oriented programmes. The main aspects of the programmes include, but are not limited to, continuing education, youth work, family life education, homework programmes, community development and leisure time activities.

Population Served: Youth
Areas of Service: Recreation / Children & Youth / Education / Teaching/tutoring / Community development

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