VAS FOUNDATION
BACKGROUND
The Value Added Services Foundation is a Non-Government Organization with a mission to advance and support youth, community and social development for Jamaica’s marginalized urban and rural communities; with a specific focus on children, youths, and the elderly.
In achieving its mission, the Foundation is involved in the design, development and mobilization of resources to execute pioneering initiatives, projects and programmes for education, empowerment and holistic development. Guided by the philosophy of “a hand up not a hand out”, the Foundation’s vision is therefore, to achieve sustainable development for its beneficiaries.
The inception of Value Added Services Foundation is rooted in the philanthropic involvements of the Principals of the organization, which cumulatively spans over 30 years of service in the youth, community and social development sectors.
Current Projects
Health Clinics
Ongoing
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, hosts health clinics in vulnerable communities offering free health services and elective surgeries.
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, hosts health clinics in vulnerable communities offering free health services and elective surgeries.
Hearing and Speech Clinics
Ongoing
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, providing free hearing and speech assessments for children in selected vulnerable communities and areas.
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, providing free hearing and speech assessments for children in selected vulnerable communities and areas.
House Build Projects
Ongoing
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, providing support to individuals living in inhumane conditions through the construction of housing units for disenfranchised members of society.
The Value Added Services Foundation in partnership with our friends from Ontario, Canada, providing support to individuals living in inhumane conditions through the construction of housing units for disenfranchised members of society.
Past Projects
Hamwalk School Redevelopment Programme
The engagement of a comprehensive redevelopment programme for the Hamwalk Primary School which includes the development of the physical school facilities, the recruitment of students and faculty, the provision of educational packages for students, as well as empowerment and support for community members.
Entrepreneurial Training Sessions
The engagement of a partnership with Bars to Go Training Institute to develop and deliver a 12 week comprehensive and highly interactive training session on the topics of customer service, etiquette and grooming, sales management, business communication tools for effective communication and maintaining effectiveness by keeping professional knowledge current. Participants were selected from the rural and urban inner-city communities as a means of aiding the development of entrepreneurial opportunities and to increase their employability.
The Establishment of the Pear Tree Grove Community Youth Council
The focus of the Council was on rebuilding the immediate and adjoining districts through sports. Roles and responsibilities of the principals of VAS included training identified community representatives, structuring the council and designating roles and responsibilities.
The engagement of an Agricultural Entrepreneurship Project
In the districts of Pear Tree Grove through the provision of agricultural products, tools, equipment and supplies as prices/incentives to the youth of the programme; thereby empowering them to transform their lives, create wealth for their families and improve their communities
Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica
This created the establishment of Youth Crime Watch Jamaica (YCWJ) with Fabian Brown, Director of Value Added Services Foundation being the first Chairman of the organization. YCWJ was aimed at mobilizing youth across Jamaica to be engaged in positive and productive activities that takes them away from crime while fostering positive relations with the police and community at large. This program was born out of former US Ambassador Sue Cobb's Building Bridges Project and maintains affiliation with Youth Crime Watch America.
Performing Arts Marching Band Programme
The establishment of a youth empowerment programme in 2002 to mobilize youth of inner-city communities using music and performing arts with the principle of discovering, developing and exposing community talents. The programme aimed to support the holistic development of its participants through training programmes in areas such as environmental health, HIV AIDS awareness, leadership, responsible sexual behavior, conflict resolution, financial management and effective communication skills as well as general community building programme
Rescue Jamaica Inner-city Project
The engagement of a Community Management and Behavior Change Modification training to include interpersonal relations, social graces, personal grooming and development in the communities of Maxfield. This was done in partnership with the National Housing Trust for their Inner-city Housing Project.
International Volunteer Programme
This was in support of rural and urban community development. International volunteers are recruited trained and placed with specific projects geared towards personal and community development in accordance with their skill sets, social interests and age range. Recognition of the Foundation’s Director Fabian Brown and his sterling service in this capacity was acknowledged by the Canadian Government who selected him as a recipient of the inaugural “Making a Difference Award” for outstanding service to Jamaica and Canada.
Engagement of a disaster mitigation and preparation initiative
The inner-city communities of South St. Andrew through partnership with Catholic Relief Services. This resulted in the establishment of the Rangers Project, a youth empowerment project engaging the use of education to promote care for the environs of the communities, in order to mitigate the impact of natural disasters as well as responding to the needs of the vulnerable during and after the disaster.
How to Donate
Please contact us by phone or email if you would like to donate to any of our current projects. For donation in Kind, we will be happy to arrange pick-up of supplies.
Each donor is sent an update by email after the execution of each project, just our way of keeping you informed of how your kindness impacts the lives of others. Email us at vas@vasjamaica.com
Each donor is sent an update by email after the execution of each project, just our way of keeping you informed of how your kindness impacts the lives of others. Email us at vas@vasjamaica.com