THERE is no questioning the love that exists between the residents of the Corporate Area community of Grant’s Pen and one of its residents — fast-rising deejay Jahshii.

This mutual admiration was evident last Friday evening when the artiste, who is among the standard bearers for the latest wave of musical innovations to come out Jamaica, gathered to pay it forward to four community institutions which continue to make a difference in the lives of residents.

The 21-year-old artiste was using the full proceeds from his birthday bash held earlier this year — $1.15 million — to fund the cash donations to Edna Manley Health Centre, Upper Room Community Church, Shortwood Practising Primary and Infant, and the Shortwood Basic School — which have all served Jahshii in the past and continue to serve the Grant’s Pen community.

Speaking at the handover of the cheques to the institutions, Jahshii’s team noted that the presentation represented a partnership with the local, community-based organisations and the artiste’s First Nation Family brand, and is part of a drive to improve lives and uplift the community.

Jahshii was not given to many words but did thank his community for their support ahead of the handover of the cheques.

“Welcome to everybody who appreciate wah mi a do. Just want it to get bigger and better with my whole career. And going forward, mi have Grant’s Pen fi put pon di map — that a my motto. Upper Room Church, thanks again for allow us to have this right yah so. You all know that most of my days growing up a right yah so we deh every Friday night and Sunday church same way. Just want fi say thanks to everybody,” he noted.

The Edna Manley Health Centre received $500,000 towards the purchase of sterilisation equipment. The total cost of this piece of equipment is $920,000. That balance is being funded by Member of Parliament Delroy Chuck..

The Upper Room Community Church was presented with a cheque for $250,000. Jahshii’s first school, the Shortwood Basic School, run by the Shortwood United Church, received $200,000.

The Shortwood Practising Primary and Infant school, which Jahshii also attended, was presented with $200,000. Acting principal of the institution Rupert McKoy was delighted with the gift, which he noted will go a far way in serving the needs of the student population, many of whom are from the Grant’s Pen community.

“We are happy to be a part of this. The fact that we are a primary school and normally it is high school or the most recent educational institutions which tend to benefit from this kind of donation, so we are happy. We always knew that he was musically inclined as he showed his talent from very early. He always told us ‘I’m going to be big’… and if he came up with a tune or lyrics it was ‘Come listen dis’ so we are happy for him and the success he has been having in the music industry, and [we are] grateful that he has chosen to remember us and make this donation,” said McKoy.

It is still early days but McKoy and his team are already looking at ways in which this donation from a past student can be utilised.

“They had indicated that it should go towards the music department and certainly this is an area that we can use a lot of resources in, especially in terms of instruments and even a bigger room because we are now using a container for music classes,” McKoy shared.

Conlan Lothian, who taught Jahshii at Shortwood Practising, was also on hand to represent the school and reflected on his past student.

“I taught him computer studies in grades four to six. He was always a willing student. I didn’t know him as Jahshii at the time; it’s just the other day I saw a picture of him and realised it’s my student. From that time he was always talented. He participated in the talent competition at the school so I’m not surprised with where he is now. This is really heart-warming because a lot of the times it’s the high schools that get the attention, so for him to remember his primary school, his foundation, I think that is really a big deal and I hope it sets a trend for others to follow,” Lothian said.

Jahshii, whose given name is Mluleki Tafari Clarke, has been one of the breakout artistes over the past year with his music being popular among a significant portion of the youth market thanks to songs such as Cream of the Crop, Born Fighter, Prosperity, 25/8 and Promise. He is one of the headliners of this weekend’s staging of Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.