CLARENDON, Jamaica — Residents of Havanna Heights, Treadlight and Racetrack in May Pen, Clarendon, were recently given a rare opportunity to engage directly with major financial institutions and build essential financial knowledge during a “Financial Reasoning Session” hosted by Project STAR.

The event took place at Project STAR’s May Pen office and was staged as part of the Community Hub, one of Project STAR’s key outreach interventions designed to bridge the gap between underserved communities and vital services.

Structured as a thematic Community Hub focused on financial literacy, the event created a centralised, welcoming space where residents could engage in practical learning, access real-time services, and build financial confidence.

Unlike conventional financial workshops, the session adopted a more conversational approach, moving away from formal presentations to a down-to-earth, dialogue-driven format.

“We dubbed it a ‘financial reasoning session’ because we wanted to make it a dialogue, not a lecture,” explained Akeem Wilson, business development and financial Inclusion officer at Project STAR. “It was not a highfalutin talk, just real conversations that the community can relate to. We want residents to understand how to open bank accounts, access insurance, explore pension plans, and talk directly with financial institutions.”

The initiative brought together key partners including Sagicor Bank, Sagicor Life, and Scotiabank who provided on-the-spot services such as account opening and financial consultations.

Wilson noted that although similar sessions have been held in the past, this format marks a new direction. “We realised that when we present information like a classroom lesson, people often get lost. But when we reason together, the transfer of information is much clearer and more effective.”

Romel Gordon, project officer for May Pen, explained that this shift in approach was based on community feedback.

“After our first session a year ago, residents told us they needed more interaction. They didn’t just want to hear about financial products; they wanted to ask questions about their situations,” he said. “We realised that people were struggling with real issues like bad debt and didn’t understand things like debt consolidation. So, this time, we designed the session to be personal, practical, and solution-oriented.”

The event attracted a diverse cross-section of the community, including small business owners, youth, and “nanograms” – self-employed individuals with no steady income. Many had previously received $100,000 business grants from Project STAR and were eager to learn how to manage their funds and grow their ventures.

Gordon highlighted the real-world challenges participants face. “Some people had to shut down their shops during COVID-19. Others don’t even have bank accounts, which limits job opportunities and long-term stability. We’re trying to help shift people from a hustle mentality to long-term planning and security,” said Gordon.

Dane Jones, a participant from the Treadlight district, described the session as both empowering and relevant.

“It was very informative. Coming from a rural area, financial literacy wasn’t really something we were taught; we had to figure it out ourselves,” he said. “The session walked us through everything from opening personal and business accounts to understanding financial products. I really wish more people would do things like this. Us ghetto youths need to know that we have options.”

Jones, who runs a car rental business and has plans to open a restaurant, said he now feels better equipped to pursue his entrepreneurial goals.

Wilson stressed that financial inclusion is a fundamental part of Project STAR’s mission.

“We’re not just here to help improve parenting or social cohesion,” he said. “We understand that sustainable change means addressing economic realities too. People have real financial needs, and that’s why events like this are so critical.”

Meanwhile, the financial institutions that participated in the session praised the initiative.

“It was a good session. It is good to be part of the community and to engage persons,” said Tankerlesia Chisholm, branch manager for BNS May Pen. “I am happy that the persons were really open and asked honest questions for them to understand specifically the difference between a savings account and a day-to-day.”

Kemar Hanson, branch manager at Sagicor May Pen, also commended Project STAR.

“It was my pleasure conversing with community members today. What I found interesting is that there were persons from different occupations and segments of the communities. The session was about promoting financial inclusion, and we are happy for the opportunity to educate persons.”