White Horses, St Thomas – A wide cross-section of community members recently benefited from an investment forum held at the Upliftment Community Centre in this rural community.

Participants included business leaders and representatives from service clubs, youth organisations, the Social Development Commission (SDC), community groups and government agencies.

The event was held to identify and prioritise investment opportunities in the various communities in the parish and to develop strategies and sources for attracting funding for the development of these efforts.

The forum was organised by Upliftment Jamaica in association with SDC St Thomas under the theme, “Developing our Communities through Dialogue and Action.”

Upliftment Jamaica provides opportunities for disadvantaged youth in White Horses through their participation in several activities including sports, education, cultural and community enrichment programmes. Upliftment was conceived some five years ago by Jamaican-born Gary Foster, who lives in the United States. He, along with five childhood friends – Kirk Green, Nigel Parris, Clayton Balliston and Rainford Grant – came up with a plan to give back to their community.

Now in its fifth year, Upliftment continues to expand programmes to motivate, educate and provide for the people of White Horses.

Clayton Balliston, president of Upliftment Jamaica, told JIS News that each year the organisation provided free uniforms and books for 40 students attending the White Horses Basic School. He said there were many outreach programmes which catered to needy persons in and outside of the community.

“Eighty-five per cent of our funding for projects is from the United States with the help of Gary Foster. So we put arms and hands together to make a better community,” he explained, adding that a number of fundraisers were held locally to assist in starting projects.

The organisation, Balliston said, plans sporting events such as football, volleyball, netball and a mini Olympics which is held from June to August each year. He said that a multi-purpose court, funded by ROSH Communications Limited in New York and recently established in White Horses, had been providing recreation for young persons in the community.

In addition, a computer centre donated by AOL Time Warner was opened at the centre. It currently has 27 computers, which provide free Internet access.