CALEB Jackson, an 18-year-old born in the United States, is a teenager who is determined to make a difference.

Jackson has conceptualised a non-profitable organisation called Operation Help The People (OHTP). The idea came to him after he visited Jamaica in the middle of his ninth-grade year and was moved by the number of people he witnessed living in poverty.

He started the organisation with a vision of helping underprivileged individuals in Jamaica. OHTP has as it mandate the assistance of communities and hopes to make a difference to those individuals in need of food and other supplies to help themselves.

Jackson plans to conduct one or two major projects each year to help Jamaicans who are living below the poverty line.

Jamaica is the starting point for OHTP, but the charity will also be doing work in the United States.

It is not the first time that this young man has been involved with something like this.

Jackson became the vice-president of an organisation called the Vanguard Society in the United States, which focuses on male retention in school, tutoring, community service, feeding the homeless, and volunteering in other organisations.

He has also done charity work in Jamaica.

“I worked in Cross Roads once, feeding the poor, and I was moved by the number of people who were suffering and in need of care.” Jackson told the Jamaica Observer.

“I had a burning desire to do charity work. That’s when the idea sparked to start the organisation called Operation Help The People,” he added.

He said that he posted a picture on the social network Instagram stating that he was going to start a fund in the summer and received a lot of positive feedback.

On the first day of posting, there were only 24 volunteers, within the span of 48 hours there were 62, in a week there were over 100 volunteers, and at the moment they are now 300 volunteers.

“I would like to help others before I receive for myself. I want to give before I receive,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that he did some research and has found out that a majority of Jamaicans are living below the poverty line.

This was also a major factor which helped in starting OHTP.

After reading an article in the Jamaica Observer, Jackson said: “I was shocked to find out that, of the 2.7 million people living in Jamaica, approximately 1.1 million are living under the poverty level. Also, the average income for a person is US$5,130 a year. So this also motivated me to start this project. [The aim] is also to get the youth involved with something positive and bring awareness to Jamaicans and other countries,” he said.

At the moment, Operation Help The People is seeking donations, which can be given at the Football Factory, located at 77 Shortwood Road in Kingston. Donations can also be made at operationsavejamaica.org.

The Immaculate Conception High School and Andrew High School for Girls are having coin drives to help support and fund this charity.

They are currently seeking sponsorship from the private sector as they are in need of 200 whole chickens and liquid refreshments.

The feeding project is slated to take place on July 16.

Residents of the inner cities will recieve handouts of food and other supplies.

There will be an orientation on July 15 for the volunteers, which will consist of discussions on social issues and the packaging of the various items that will be distributed.

“One thing I wish for people to get from this project is that you’re never too young to make an impact. I’m trying to be as much of a benefit to the society as possible. One thing I want people to gain from this is that no matter what your age is, you are never too young to be productive and make a difference in your community,” he said.

OHTP is currently thinking of its second project to be carried out in Jamaica for which the volunteers will vote to decide who and where the beneficiaries will be.

Jackson recently got accepted to Howard University, where he will be majoring in finance. While in the United States he studied at Delroy Technical Community College after graduating from The Hillel Academy in St Andrew.

Jackson is not only about academics as he is also an athlete and formerly played American football.