KINGATON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE) is seeking to raise $40 million through its Yuletide Telethon which will run from Friday until Sunday.

The money raised will support the projects that are listed on the JSSE.

There were several insightful presentations at the recent launch of the telethon as people spoke of the core values and purpose of the JSSE as it relates to interventional activities that are helping to change lives in communities across Jamaica.

Managing Director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Dr Marlene Street Forrest led the charge in outlining the mission of the JSSE, explaining why the Telethon was necessary to keep the projects listed on the platform healthy and active.

The three projects are “Shalom”, run by Choose Life International which addresses suicide prevention and mental illness as well as the Happiness Clubs in schools; “Love Changes Life” operated by Dr Donald Rhodd of the Praise Jamaica Foundation and; “JaMIN Music Entrepreneurship” based in Trench Town and operated by Dr Henley Morgan of the Agency for Inner-city Renewal.

JSSE board member Dr K’adamawe K’nife spoke to the value of investment in the social sector. He urged the social enterprises to adopt proper business practices, noting that the fact that they are funded through altruism means that they will always be under scrutiny and there will always be question marks around the element of trust.

“We cannot attain Vision 2030 or the key Social Development Goals without a very dynamic and robust ecosystem for the social services sector. The JSSE is foundation for social enterprise and change in Jamaica. Through these efforts like the Yuletide Telethon we are laying the pathway for great social change that will even surpass the targets of Vision 2030 and the Social Development Goals,” said K’nife.

In the meantime, Chairman of the JSSE, Professor Neville Ying, in his address said: “The energy of the Jamaican people is being sapped by social problems, not the least of which is crime and violence, people are fearful for their lives, leading to high levels of anxiety and depression.

“We have two choices, we can sit back and do nothing or we can step up and donate to the three causes and help to get Jamaica back on track in terms of its development. I fully endorse the telethon and I urge the wider community to do the same,” Ying added.

Dr Donovan Thomas of Choose Life International, in his address, noted that every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide across the globe.

“In Jamaica the suicide rate has saw a 26 per cent increase in 2022 compared to 2021. People are traumatised and sometimes people feel powerless,” said Thomas.

“People are hurting and we want to come through and touch them where they are hurting. The idea is that there will be a community element and a school element. We have started the Happiness Club in 10 schools and have another 11 schools that are waiting to get onto the project. I urge Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica to give generously so that the programme can be expanded to reach even more schools and communities,” added Thomas.

Manager of the JSSE Nora Blake called on Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora to give generously during the Telethon to achieve the $40 million target.

The Yuletide Telethon will be broadcast live in Jamaica on CVM TV and the JSE’s cable channel CBX via FLOW channel –143 and Digicel channel-28 and across the world via the Internet on both websites of the JSE -www.jse@jamstockex.com & the JSSE- www.jsseja.com, as well as the JSE’s social media platforms.

You may pledge or donate to the Telethon at www.jsseja.com

Other avenues for donating and pledging include:

· Scanning the QR CODE on the landing page of the website

· Clicking on the PROJECTS Tab at the top and then clicking on the project YULETIDE TELETHON 2023

· Or call any of the following numbers:

– (876-612-5502/876-612-5507/876-612 5531/876-612-5444/876-612-5565

– Overseas: US/Canada 1-833-431 4199 – UK 0-800-048-8071