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

The project has transformed the institution into a moving students from inadequate conditions into a modern, resilient facility designed to foster development. The renovation and construction includes fully furnished, ventilated classrooms, specialized administrative blocks, and reinforced infrastructure built to the highest engineering standards.

Chairman of the CHASE Fund, Omar Frith, expressed immense pride in the scale and intent of the contribution.

“As Chairman, I am extremely proud of this massive contribution. This is the largest single investment that the CHASE Fund has made in early childhood education,” Mr. Frith stated. “We understand that this is going to contribute significantly to increasing access, not just to quality education, but to quality spaces where children can learn and develop into the greatest futures they can dream of.”

The CEO of the CHASE Fund, W. Billy Heaven, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the strategic shift from the school’s humble beginnings in 1953 to its current state. He emphasized that the project is rooted in the “science of learning” rather than just physical construction.

“In early childhood education, we don’t create a teaching environment; we create a learning environment,” the CEO remarked. “Today we celebrate more than a building or the unveiling of a plaque; we celebrate early childhood development. This $139 million investment ensures a safer, sounder, and more stimulating space for our children.”

The CEO further revealed that since its inception, the CHASE Fund has invested a staggering $7.74 billion in early childhood education across Jamaica, with 74% of that dedicated to building, reconstruction, and equipping schools. He pointed out that the 17% return on investment in early childhood education is higher than any commercial sector, yielding long-term benefits such as a more civilized, productive, and tax-paying workforce.

The new facility is also a model of resilience. Referring to the high standards of CHASE’s engineering work, the CEO noted that similar projects undertaken by CHASE in Western Jamaica, have withstood severe weather without losing “even a nail head,” ensuring the May Pen community has a legacy that will last for generations.

The ceremony concluded with a commitment to continued monitoring and support for the school, ensuring that the staff and students have the necessary tools to maintain this new standard of excellence.

“The scholarships are intended to help defray the cost of studies in priority areas consistent with national policy,” Heaven said. He also disclosed that all recipients of cumulative grants of $300,000 or more are bonded and required to maintain a minimum ‘B’ average.

Underscoring the long-term impact of the initiative, Heaven added, “When we support students in teachers’ colleges, we are not only investing in individual ambition, but in the strength of our education system and the generations it will shape. Empowering teachers is one of the most powerful ways to secure national development.”

For more than two decades, the CHASE Fund has been quietly reshaping early childhood infrastructure across Jamaica. Since 2002, the organisation has invested in the construction of purpose-built infant school facilities designed not just to educate, but to endure.

At the heart of this achievement is a clear philosophy, articulated by CHASE Fund CEO W. Billy Heaven: “When we build a school, we are not simply putting up walls and a roof—we are creating a place of safety, dignity, and continuity for our children and their communities. Storms will come, but our responsibility is to ensure that learning, hope, and protection remain standing long after the winds have passed.”

Mr. Heaven explained that this long-term view has guided every CHASE Fund intervention. “We were committed to ensuring that schools were properly built and ready for occupancy, which is why most of these projects include the provision of furniture as well. Hurricanes like Beryl and Melissa remind us that quality construction is not optional—it is essential.”

Building with resilience in mind

Working in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), the CHASE Fund strategically placed emphasis on structural integrity, improved roofing systems, reinforced foundations, and overall build quality. That strategy proved decisive.

When Hurricane Melissa struck in October 2025 with high winds and torrential rainfall, infant schools constructed by the CHASE Fund across some of the most severely affected parishes remained standing and secure. Post-hurricane assessments revealed no structural damage—clear evidence that lessons learned from previous storms had been successfully embedded into stronger construction standards.

A site visit to Bounty Hall Primary and Infant School in Trelawny underscored this success. Principal Ilna Greyson confirmed to CHASE Fund project officers that while sections of perimeter fencing were damaged by fallen trees, the infant school building itself remained fully intact. Subsequent inspections found no hurricane-related structural damage.

Similar visual and technical assessments across multiple CHASE-built institutions produced the same results: the buildings were structurally sound and fully capable of withstanding extreme weather events. Hurricane Melissa became the ultimate test—and these schools passed.

Schools as safe havens

Beyond their educational purpose, several CHASE-built infant schools became literal sanctuaries during the storm. Some facilities were used as emergency shelters, offering safety and stability to residents displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

The Infant Department at Bickersteth Primary and Infant School in St. James, was renovated by the CHASE Fund. A section of that department is currently being used to house homeless persons in the aftermath of the hurricane—powerful evidence of the broader community value of resilient public infrastructure.

“This speaks volumes about the quality of the construction and the foresight behind these investments,” Mr. Heaven noted, praising CHASE’s management team, contractors, consultants, and the rigorous site supervision applied throughout its projects.

Among the schools built and renovated by the CHASE Fund that successfully withstood both Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa are:

• Unity Primary and Infant School
• Bounty Hall Primary and Infant School
• Farm Primary and Infant School
• Buckingham Primary and Infant School
• Pondside Primary and Infant School
• Christiana Moravian Primary & Infant School
• Roses Valley Primary and Infant School
• Leeds Primary and Infant School
• Santa Cruz Primary and Infant School
• Happy Grove Primary and Infant School
• Lacovia Primary and Infant School
• Friendship Primary and Infant School
• Bickersteth Primary and Infant School

As climate-related events grow more frequent and more intense, the experience of 2025 delivers a clear and urgent lesson: resilient construction is not a luxury—it is a necessity. For hundreds of young learners and the communities that depend on these schools, the CHASE Fund’s commitment to building to last has made all the difference.

The impressive performance of the Holmwood students is a testament to the talent fostered by the school and is a highlight of our ongoing collaboration, which began with their participation in the 2024 Blue Run and continued. This sustained involvement showcases the CHASE Fund’s commitment to investing in our nation’s youth through sports and health initiatives.

Holmwood Technical’s Notable 2025 Achievements:

Wearing their distinctive CHASE Fund Pink Jerseys, the Holmwood Technical students achieved outstanding results in the Women’s Category:

• 2nd Place (Overall Tie): Florence Nafamba (placing for the second year in a row) and Jovi Rose secured a phenomenal joint second-place finish overall, both with a time of 21:14.

• Category Champion: Young star Ronesha Rhule dominated her age group (Females 12 and Under) with a swift time of 24:09, earning a remarkable three trophies for her effort.

The CHASE Fund extends heartfelt congratulations to the Holmwood Technical High School team and all participants. We look forward to continuing this impactful partnership in future health and community runs.

The CHASE team, which currently has 223 persons registered under Team CHASE Fund, will join hundreds of participants dressed in pink, the colour globally recognized for breast cancer awareness.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican women. Despite its prevalence, public conversations around the disease are often limited, and screenings are frequently delayed due to stigma and lack of information. The CHASE Fund has long been an advocate for health initiatives that empower citizens with the tools and knowledge to make informed choices about their well-being.

“The involvement of a major organization like CHASE can inspire others to get involved, whether through donations, participation, or simply spreading the word. Each runner on the CHASE team becomes an ambassador for the cause, helping to inform colleagues, friends, and family about breast cancer, its risks, and the importance of early detection,” said Alfred Francis, Managing Director, of Running Events Jamaica, organisers of the Pink Run 5K.

By supporting the Pink Run, the CHASE Fund aims to bring national attention to the importance of early detection, regular screening, and the need for women to prioritize their health.

“The fight against cancer, and breast cancer in particular, is a cause that aligns strongly with our mission in the health sector,” said W. Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund. “We are proud to be a part of the Pink Run 5K because we believe that through awareness, education, and early detection, lives can be saved. Our presence is not just symbolic—it’s a call to action.”

CHASE Fund’s commitment goes beyond participation. Under its Health portfolio, the Fund invests 20 percent of its resources in vital areas such as infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals, health centres, and clinics, and facilitating the training of health care practitioners.

Specific initiatives to improve cancer detection, treatment, and care include:

• Training Oncology nurses.

• Investing in prostate cancer and breast cancer cell line research.

• Past funding partnerships which established the National Cancer Treatment Centres located at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican men. Despite its prevalence, public conversations around the disease are often limited, and screenings are frequently delayed due to stigma and lack of information. The CHASE Fund has long been an advocate for health initiatives that empower citizens with the tools and knowledge to make informed choices about their well-being.

“The involvement of a major organization like CHASE can inspire others to get involved, whether through donations, participation, or simply spreading the word. Each runner on the CHASE team becomes an ambassador for the cause, helping to inform colleagues, friends, and family about prostate cancer, its risks, and the importance of early detection,” said Alfred Francis, Managing Director, of Running Events Jamaica, organisers of the Blue Run 5K.

By supporting the Blue Run, the CHASE Fund aims to bring national attention to the importance of early detection, regular screening, and the need for men to prioritize their health.

“The fight against cancer, and prostate cancer in particular, is a cause that aligns strongly with our mission in the health sector,” said W. Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund.

“We are proud to be a part of the Blue Run 5K because we believe that through awareness, education, and early detection, lives can be saved. Our presence is not just symbolic — it’s a call to action,” he added.

Under its Health portfolio, the CHASE Fund invests 20 percent of its resources in infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals, health centres and clinics and facilitating training of health care practitioners.

Specific initiatives to improve cancer detection, treatment and care include training Oncology nurses, investing in prostate cancer and breast cancer cell line research and past funding partnerships which established the National Cancer Treatment Centres located at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.