THE JWN Foundation, as part of its plan to have closer ties with communities in which J Wray & Nephew has operations, last Thrsday hosted a Christmas treat for grade six students who live in communities near its New Yarmouth factory base in Clarendon.

Nearly 100 children from the Gimme-Me-Bit and Race Course primary and infant schools enjoyed the treat themed ‘FUN-spiration’ because of its emphasis on fun and inspiration. The variety of activities included face painting, bounce house, games such as musical cheers, music, food, and to top it all off, presents.

“Because we just finished our end-of-term tests, it’s a good venture to get them to lyme, unwind and relax,” said Lisa Walters, a teacher at Gimme-Me-Bit Primary and Infant School. “So far the children seem to be having themselves a good time. They’re enjoying themselves; they’re being entertained and they’re entertaining others. So the venture overall is a good one, and I hope that J Wray & Nephew Foundation will continue to do this on a yearly basis.”

She added: “The fact that it’s in the Christmas season is a good venture; Christmas is all about giving back, sharing and caring and JWN Foundation is doing just that.”

Walters also commented on the yearly Community Scholarship Awards, saying: “The scholarship is good. Last year one of our students was a recipient… it helps students who really need the help. I’m going to be encouraging my students to make use of that opportunity as well.”

Race Course Primary and Infant School teacher, Kayan James-Davy, also endorsed the event. She said: “It’s a great way for them to socialise and have fun with not only their peers, but children from other schools.

“It’s a great way for them to de-stress, to have fun and, since we’re coming onto the Christmas season, to show them that the Christmas season is important to celebrate the birth of Christ and to spread love, kindness and happiness among our children,” added James-Davy.

“We all love gifts, we all love presents, so it’s really good that the gifts came with the food and everything else, but the gift is the icing on the cake for the children.”

She added: “It’s a good venture to get the community and children involved and to just let the teachers and schools know that we have people out there who care.”

The JWN Foundation, which operates under the theme ‘transforming lives and communities for a better Jamaica’, was established in 2012 and focuses on developing the areas surrounding J Wray & Nephew’s business operations at Spanish Town Road in Kingston, New Yarmouth in Clarendon and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth.

“We started with the scholarships and now we’ve gone further with the Christmas treat, helping our young ones to ease some of the stress from the hard work they’ve been putting in for the GSAT challenge that lies ahead, plus enjoying the festivities of this season, in which more emphasis is placed on caring and sharing. When you invest in the children, you’re laying the groundwork to build communities,” JWN Foundation Chairman Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence said.

Earlier this year, the foundation strengthened ties with the New Yarmouth community by broadening its annual scholarship awards for the communities in and around the JWN’s New Yarmouth Estate. It quadrupled its bursaries from 25 to 100 with a noticeable increase in the allotment of tertiary level scholarships from two to 10. The foundation has hinted that it intends to double its total allotment over the next three to five years.

“As we go further, we will be looking to develop the council that will help with feedback to tell the people what we can do for them and what they can also do to assist us,” Lawrence said in reference to the newly-formed Community Council in the area.