Our Projects Manager, Latoya Foster, took center stage as the guest reader, engaging the little ones with stories that spark the imagination. The session was particularly special as we shared titles from our recent donation of 131 books to the school’s library.

At the heart of our literacy initiatives is a commitment to supporting local voices. The books selected for the reading session were all penned by talented Jamaican authors, ensuring that the children see their own culture and surroundings reflected in the pages they read. Featured stories included:

• Blue Monster Wants It All

• Sandy Tosh and the Moo Cow

• A Pig in a Parachute

Watching the students engage with these characters was a powerful reminder of why access to quality literature matters. By providing books that are culturally relevant and engaging, we are helping to build a foundation for lifelong learning.

Laying the groundwork for literacy in the infant department is a key priority for us. Literacy is not just about academic success; it is about empowerment and providing children with the tools they need to navigate the world.

We extend our gratitude to the faculty at Mountain View Primary and Infant School for welcoming us into their classrooms. We look forward to seeing these 131 books inspire many more “once upon a time” moments for years to come.

The $15 million project benefited institutions across Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Mary and Portland, reinforcing the importance of safe and secure learning environments during the critical early years of a child’s development.

The initiative forms part of CHASE Fund’s longstanding commitment to the advancement of early childhood education in Jamaica. Through sustained investment in the sector, the Fund has supported the upgrading of infant schools, the provision of educational resources and technology, and improvements to the physical environments in which young children learn and develop.

The perimeter fencing project represents another important investment in this ongoing programme of support. In addition to enhancing the security of school compounds, the improvements will assist the institutions in meeting Standard 8 of the Early Childhood Commission’s certification requirements, which focuses on maintaining safe and secure environments for children, staff, stakeholders and visitors.

“The CHASE Fund has a longstanding commitment to strengthening Jamaica’s early childhood education system, and we are pleased to continue that investment through projects that improve both the learning environment and the safety of our youngest citizens,” said CHASE Fund Public Relations and Administrative Manager, Hilary Coulton.

“We are proud to have completed these works ahead of the new academic year and look forward to seeing the benefits for the children, teachers and communities served by these institutions.”

The completion of the project comes as schools across the island prepare to welcome students for the new academic year, giving the ten beneficiary institutions an important addition to their infrastructure and helping to create environments where children can learn, play and develop with greater safety and security.

The completed perimeter fencing works benefitted the following early childhood institutions:

In 2016, severe structural damage led a geotechnical report to deem the original building defective and unsafe for occupancy. While a retrofitted container was previously utilized to maintain essential services for the estimated 12,000 patients served annually, this new 4,227 sq. ft. reinforced concrete facility represents a permanent and comprehensive upgrade for the St. Mary Health Department.

In his remarks to an audience of partners, health centre staff and community members, Omar Frith, Chairman of the CHASE Fund shared the Fund’s role in the development of the Belfield Community Health Centre. “The CHASE Fund is proud and elated to be associated with this massive project in Belfield. When we broke ground, our hope was to remain on schedule and on budget, and I am pleased to see that we have returned for this opening quite quickly. While many recognize CHASE as a funding entity, we work in lockstep with the Government’s national priorities. By aligning our support with these major agendas, we have ensured that the Belfield Health Centre can now provide essential primary healthcare to over 12,000 residents within this community and its surrounding vicinities,” Mr. Frith declared.

The new facility has been designed to meet the rigorous protocols of the Ministry of Health & Wellness. The scope of work included the construction of a slab-roof building featuring:

• Advanced pharmacy services and health records management.
• Dedicated clinician, nursing, and midwifery rooms.
• Modern staff and guest amenities, plus a specialized ICT area.
• Infrastructure improvements including an asphaltic car park, secure fencing, and a perimeter gate.

To ensure uninterrupted service delivery, the project also included a standby generator, backup water storage, and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system.

Recognizing a critical shortage of this vital skillset within Jamaica’s local healthcare system, the CHASE Fund stepped forward in 2020, inviting qualified medical personnel to apply for specialized scholarships in Perfusion Medicine under its Health portfolio. This strategic intervention began when the I Have a Heart Foundation brought this critical deficit directly to the attention of the Prime Minister. Recognizing the urgent risk to national cardiac care, the Prime Minister mandated that the CHASE Fund identify and sponsor qualified recipients to bridge the gap.

Today, that mandate is bearing fruit through the inspiring, resilient journey of two dedicated Jamaican healthcare professionals: Ms. Faith Johnson, and Mr. Moses Linton, the only Jamaican perfusionists in the country, and CHASE Fund scholarship recipients.

The path to securing this advanced training for Jamaica was a testament to perseverance. In 2020, three medical professionals from the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) initially qualified for the scholarship and were accepted into Barry University in Florida. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university to suddenly withdraw the program later that year.

Undeterred, and with the continuous backing of the CHASE Fund, the applicants spent the next two years navigating international admissions hurdles, including limited space for overseas students at other institutions like Hofstra University in New York. During this prolonged waiting period, one applicant migrated and withdrew from the process.

The ultimate breakthrough came in early 2023, when both Faith and Moses successfully secured acceptance into the prestigious Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion program at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom for the 2023/24 academic year. CHASE covered their tuition.

The Head of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at UHWI played a pivotal role in championing this scholarship initiative, recognizing how critical these specialized skills are to the hospital’s daily, life-saving operations. To ensure the students gain the mandatory practical experience required to sit their professional qualifying examinations, UHWI established a dynamic international training network. A senior Perfusionist from Canada travels to Jamaica to provide on-the-ground clinical instruction at UHWI, and the students are also slated for hands-on practical rotations in Martinique.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — July 8, 2026 — Zion Care International, a New York-based charity led by Bishop Brown, has partnered with Duke University Health, the Jamaica Medical Foundation, and the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) Eye Clinic to facilitate a week-long ophthalmology mission providing free cataract surgeries to approximately 500 patients across the public health system.

The mission, running July 6–11, 2026 at the Kingston Public Hospital, follows Zion Care International’s long-standing history of charitable work in Jamaica, which began in 2012 and has traditionally focused on annual dental missions to underserved communities. This year, for the first time, the organization expanded its scope by partnering with Duke University in North Carolina, which assembled an 11-member team of ophthalmologists and volunteer eye care professionals to perform surgeries on patients identified through KPH.

A screening team arrived ahead of the surgical group to prepare the roughly 500 patients selected for surgery, bringing specialized medication and equipment to support the effort. Surgeries are being led by Dr. Lloyd Williams, working alongside the KPH Eye Clinic team under the direction of Dr. Michelle Leighton, Ophthalmologist, and Dr. Trevor Bygrave, Senior Medical Officer for KPH.

The mission addresses a critical gap in access to specialized eye care in Jamaica following the withdrawal of the Cuban ophthalmology programme, which has contributed to growing surgical backlogs and preventable vision loss, particularly among elderly and vulnerable populations. By delivering immediate surgical interventions, reducing waiting lists, and fostering knowledge-sharing between international and local healthcare providers, the mission is expected to significantly improve access to care and quality of life for beneficiaries.

A Partnership Rooted in Diaspora Collaboration

The Jamaica Medical Foundation, the outreach arm of Jamaica’s insurance industry, has been providing a lifeline to health since 1988. Since 2016, the Foundation has served as the local partner for the annual medical mission, working alongside Zion Care International as the diaspora partner and providing essential on-the-ground coordination and support. For this year’s expanded initiative, the Foundation played a key role in securing sponsorship from the CHASE Fund to cover accommodation costs for the visiting medical team from Duke University.

The CHASE Fund — the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund — continues to play a vital role in strengthening Jamaica’s health sector through its support of initiatives such as this mission.

Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund, said:

“The CHASE Fund is proud to support this ophthalmology mission and the partners who made it possible. Investing in the health of our people, particularly our most vulnerable, is central to our mandate. By helping to host the team from Duke University, we are helping to restore sight and dignity to hundreds of Jamaicans who might otherwise wait years for this kind of care. We commend Zion Care International, the Jamaica Medical Foundation, and Kingston Public Hospital for their leadership, and we remain committed to partnering in initiatives that strengthen our health sector.”

Voices from the Ground

Mr. Orville Johnson, Chairman of the Jamaica Medical Foundation shared the following reflection from the mission:

“Today was another special day at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) as we continued this mission of restoring sight and bringing hope to so many. From patients waiting courageously for their turn, to our doctors and medical team offering care, comfort, and reassurance every step of the way, each moment reminded us why this work matters. Behind every surgery is a person, a family, and the possibility of seeing life more clearly again. We are deeply grateful to everyone making this mission possible and to every patient who has placed their trust in us.”

Registration Notice

All patients for this year’s mission have already been registered and selected by Kingston Public Hospital. Registered patients will be contacted directly regarding their scheduled procedures. Zion Care International encourages the public to follow its official platforms for updates on future missions and announcements.

About Zion Care International

Zion Care International is a New York-based charity led by Bishop Brown that has conducted charitable work in Jamaica since 2012, with a focus on annual dental missions to underserved communities. Zion Care International remains committed to improving health outcomes and quality of life for vulnerable populations across Jamaica.

About the Jamaica Medical Foundation

The Jamaica Medical Foundation is the outreach arm of the insurance industry, “Providing a Lifeline to Health” since 1988. Since 2016, the Foundation has served as Zion Care International’s diaspora partner, supporting dental, ophthalmology, and other medical missions with on-the-ground coordination and logistical support.

About the CHASE Fund

The CHASE Fund’s support for the health sector is guided by the principle that every Jamaican deserves access to quality healthcare services. Under its Health portfolio, the CHASE Fund invests 20% of its resources on infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals, health centres and clinics; promotion of healthy lifestyles and training of health care practitioners.

About Duke University Health

Duke University Health provided an 11-member volunteer team of ophthalmologists and eye care professionals for this mission, working in collaboration with local partners to deliver free cataract surgeries and support knowledge transfer with Jamaican healthcare providers.

CLICK HERE TO USE THE ONLINE APPLICATION

The CHASE Fund is pleased to announce a significant milestone in the development of the Morant Bay Museum: the commencement of the concept and design phase. The museum, which will be built on the historic site of the old Morant Bay Courthouse in St. Thomas, is intended to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865 and its defining role in shaping modern Jamaica.

The project was publicly announced by Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, during his Budget Debate presentation on March 17, 2023:

“Through the CHASE Fund, a museum will be built in Morant Bay to ensure that current and future generations are rooted and grounded in the knowledge of our rich cultural and historical heritage. The museum is to capture and properly document the history of the Morant Bay Rebellion and its defining impacts on modern Jamaica in order to help our people to truly understand the struggles our forefathers underwent.”

— Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, Budget Debate, March 2023

The museum will be developed on the site of the old Morant Bay Courthouse — a declared historic site owned by the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation. The original courthouse was destroyed by fire in 2007, but its brick walls remain standing, a physical and symbolic remnant of one of Jamaica’s most consequential historical events. It was here, in October 1865, that the Morant Bay Rebellion unfolded under the leadership of preacher Paul Bogle, now one of Jamaica’s seven National Heroes. On the courthouse grounds stands a monument in memory of Bogle and the more than 400 martyrs of the uprising.

Following an international competitive bidding process, the CHASE Fund has engaged DTJ Design, Inc., a United States-based design firm, in collaboration with local architectural partners Kingston 10 Architects (K10A), to provide conceptualisation and design services for the museum. The contract was signed in March 2026. The consultancy is expected to span six (6) months.

Design work is now actively underway. The Design Team — comprising DTJ Design and Kingston 10 Architects — completed a visit to the Morant Bay site on May 18–19, 2026, conducting site observations and initiating preliminary design work. Weekly progress meetings are ongoing, and an Inception Report has been submitted by the consultants. Community and broader stakeholder engagement activities are being arranged to ensure that the museum concept reflects the voices and perspectives of the people of St. Thomas and all Jamaicans.

“We are thrilled to have reached this stage of the project. Getting here required sustained effort — from the early stakeholder conversations in 2023 through a rigorous international procurement process — and we are proud of the foundation that has been laid. With a talented design team now on board and active work underway, the vision of a world-class museum in Morant Bay is becoming a reality. This museum will not simply be a building; it will be a place of memory, of reckoning, and of pride — a space where Jamaicans and visitors alike can engage deeply with a chapter of our history that helped to define who we are as a people.”

— Billy Heaven, Chief Executive Officer, CHASE Fund

The project is guided by a multi-agency Project Oversight Committee comprising representatives of the CHASE Fund, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES), the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), and the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ). The St. Thomas Municipal Corporation, which owns the site, has expressed its full support for the transformation of the old courthouse grounds.

This year, the theme carries unprecedented urgency. Months after the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa in late 2025, our communities are still actively rebuilding. While much of the public focus remains on replacing roofs, clearing debris, and restoring physical infrastructure, an invisible crisis persists: the collective trauma, anxiety, and emotional displacement experienced by Jamaica’s children.

While clinical interventions remain essential, one of the most effective, accessible, and proactive tools for nurturing emotional resilience and mental healing in infants is simple: the freedom to play.

Hurricane Melissa did not just damage homes and schools; it upended the sense of safety that is foundational to a child’s psychological development. For thousands of infants across Jamaica, the howling 185 mph winds, the sudden displacement from their bedrooms, and the visible distress of the adults around them created toxic stress. If left unaddressed, this level of trauma can severely impair cognitive development, emotional regulation, and academic focus.

This is where the science of play-based learning becomes a critical instrument for mental health recovery.

For an infant, a playground is not a luxury, it is a therapeutic space. Play is the natural language through which young children process fear, express complex emotions, and regain a sense of control over their environment. When a child engages in physical, unstructured play, their brain releases endorphins that actively reduce cortisol (the stress hormone). Navigating a slide or a climbing frame allows a child to move from a state of passive helplessness, inflicted by a natural disaster, to active mastery, rebuilding the internal confidence necessary to face an uncertain world.

Recognizing that mental health and physical environment are deeply intertwined, the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has long prioritized the construction of safe, certified, and enriching play spaces across Jamaica. In the wake of recent climate adversities, this mandate has evolved from an educational initiative into a core pillar of community psychosocial recovery.

By investing heavily in early childhood infrastructure, CHASE aims to restore a sense of normalcy and joy to young learners, ensuring that physical spaces actively support cognitive and emotional healing.

]]> https://chase.org.jm/re-imagining-play-chase-fund-partners-with-ecc-to-strengthen-early-childhood-development-through-play-kits/ Tue, 19 May 2026 17:02:16 +0000 https://chase.org.jm/?p=4437 Play is one of the most powerful tools for learning in the early years of a child’s life. Through play, children develop creativity, communication skills, emotional intelligence, social awareness, and problem-solving abilities that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Recognizing the importance of play-based learning, the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), with pivotal support from the CHASE Fund, continues to expand its national Re-Imagining Play: Play in the Early Years programme to benefit children across Jamaica.

The initiative aims to transform how play is understood and integrated within early childhood education by providing practical resources, training, and support to Early Childhood Institutions (ECIs) islandwide.

In January 2025, the CHASE Fund provided $4.5 million to support the procurement, assembly, and distribution of 70 play kits to ECIs across Jamaica. By February 2026, all targeted institutions had successfully received their kits, with the final distribution coinciding with Global Play Day.

Building on this success, the ECC has now secured $10 million from the CHASE Fund to extend the initiative across the island through the procurement and distribution of an additional 175 play kits to ECIs in need. This substantial investment underscores the Fund’s commitment to scaling the programme and ensuring that children in every region benefit from enhanced play-based learning experiences.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Karlene Deslandes, Executive Director of the ECC, highlighted its impact:

“Play is a fundamental right of every child and one of the most important ways young children learn and develop. Through play, children build critical brain connections that support creativity, language, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth. The Early Childhood Commission is proud to partner with the CHASE Fund to create enriching play-based environments where Jamaican children can explore, imagine and thrive.”

The CEO of the CHASE Fund also emphasized the importance of investing in early childhood development:

“The CHASE Fund is committed to supporting initiatives that positively impact the lives of Jamaican children. Play is essential to healthy child development, and through this partnership with the ECC, we are helping to create learning environments where children can grow, explore, and thrive. This $10 million investment will allow us to extend the programme’s reach across the entire island.”

The Re-Imagining Play programme was developed in response to growing concerns about the need for more intentional and structured play opportunities within the early childhood sector. The programme promotes play-based learning, encourages parental involvement, facilitates national play-based activities, and ensures that Jamaica’s Early Childhood Development policy continues to prioritize play as a critical component of learning.

Feedback from educators has been overwhelmingly positive. An evaluation conducted by the ECC’s Research Unit in April 2024 found that all recipients of the play kits reported satisfaction with the resources, noting that they significantly enhanced classroom learning. Many early childhood practitioners indicated that they use the kits daily in structured play sessions lasting at least 30 minutes.

In addition to distributing play kits, the programme has introduced interactive activities such as hopscotch painting, creating vibrant and engaging spaces that foster movement, creativity, and social interaction among young learners.

The expansion of the Re-Imagining Play programme reflects a broader national commitment to strengthening early childhood education and supporting the holistic development of Jamaican children. By investing in play-based learning, the ECC and the CHASE Fund are nurturing confident, capable, and resilient learners prepared for future success.

Through continued collaboration and investment in play, children across Jamaica are being given opportunities to learn, imagine, and thrive in environments designed to support their full potential.

Jesse was born with only one functioning kidney, though no one knew for more than a decade. His other kidney was severely underdeveloped, no larger than a pea, while his body quietly coped with the demands of childhood and adolescence. That changed in 2023 when, at just 14 years old, his only working kidney began to fail. Suddenly, his body struggled to regulate fluids, and his family faced the frightening uncertainty of what lay ahead.

A glimpse of hope arrived in late 2025 when Jesse was scheduled to undergo a life-saving kidney transplant in October. But nature intervened. Hurricane Melissa swept across the island, forcing doctors to postpone the surgery. For three long months, Jesse and his family –his parents Carson and Natida Thompson, and his sisters Jadah and Janai – lived in anxious anticipation, waiting for conditions to stabilize and for the medical team to resume the critical procedure.

“Miss Melissa came to visit, and she had been planning it for a while. While she was sitting offshore doing her thing, we were trying to make our plans,” Carson Thompson shared. “We kept making these early morning trips from Westmoreland to UHWI for blood tests and scans, just trying to reach the finish line—and then everything stopped.”

The hurricane did more than delay Jesse’s surgery. It also struck at the heart of the family’s stability, severely damaging their home. As they waited for a new surgery date, they were also forced to confront the loss of their physical shelter and the uncertainty of rebuilding.

Mr. Thompson said the family found comfort in the consistent support of the CHASE Fund team during this time.

“They called to check on Jesse, to check on Natida, and to ask how I was doing. They asked how we managed during the storm, about the house, how we were going to rebuild, and where we were staying now. We can’t describe the level of support,” he said.

On January 8, 2026, the long wait finally ended. In a powerful act of love and sacrifice, Jesse’s mother entered the operating theatre to donate one of her kidneys to her son.

The surgery was a race against time. Jesse’s treatment had been complicated by his small, fragile veins, which often collapsed under the strain of repeated procedures. By the time of the transplant, he had undergone nearly ten catheter placements as doctors struggled to maintain access for dialysis.

“Normally when you place a catheter in one area, especially with veins like his, they collapse and you may never be able to use that site again,” Mrs. Thompson explained. “They have placed catheters everywhere they could. If this one had failed, we honestly don’t know how he would have continued. This transplant was the last door open for him.”

The transplant was successfully performed by local surgeons at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in partnership with Transplant Links Community (TLC), a British charity that promotes life-saving transplant procedures and provides training to specialists worldwide. For several years, the CHASE Fund has supported this effort by providing financial assistance for the transfer of skills under the National Kidney Transplant Programme, which brings together specialists from Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), and the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC).

Jesse was discharged on January 28, 2026, and is recovering well. However, the family now faces significant medical expenses, including hospital fees and the lifelong medication Jesse must take to prevent rejection of his new kidney. To help ease this burden, the CHASE Fund approved a $1.5 million grant to support the family as they continue their journey toward recovery and rebuilding their lives.

Mr. Thompson shared a final message of encouragement for others facing similar challenges.

“If you or a family member is diagnosed with kidney disease, it’s not a death sentence. We are eternally grateful to CHASE. It is God who decides how we live… and until that day comes, we hold on to hope.”

Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/9itTrSrFlm0?si=lRvSeZmn4GJRCdEz