This headline is from the song by Jewel which reminds us “only kindness matters”. As I consider the contribution of Denis O’Brien through the Digicel Foundation to Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad, and Papua New Guinea, his philanthropy takes a front seat, even as his position in Digicel moves from chair to board member.

It has been an honour to chair the Digicel Foundation Jamaica for the past seven years and being a keen witness of O’Brien’s fight against poverty. My visit to the foundation’s opening of another school in Haiti took me over hills and valleys to Savane, where the new school — three buildings, two stories, and multipurpose court had been built. To date, Digicel has built 189 such schools in Haiti. We also saw the rebuilt Iron Market, part of the reconstruction funded by the Digicel Foundation Haiti.

In spite of the financial challenges facing O’Brien, he has noted that he has no immediate plans to end the work of the foundation, even with the huge economic challenges in Haiti, the company’s biggest market.

Here in Jamaica, the Digicel Foundation has focused on three areas: special needs, education, and community development supported by US$42 million to date over the past 18 years. Parents of children with disabilities have shed tears of joy at the opening of the 12 schools across Jamaica, built or extensively renovated by the foundation. Finally, their children have facilities where they can be tested and given the necessary tools of learning to take their place in the society. Ramps have been built and bathrooms updated in several schools so students with disabilities can gain easy access.

The foundation has equipped science labs and donated mobile labs. Their education enrichment programme has resulted in the targeted schools surpassing the literacy target. Now they are rolling out ‘smart rooms’ equipped with laptops, tablets, and whiteboards to help primary schoolchildren cross the digital divide. Farming and environmental projects have also been supported.

I now harken back to a previous column. How did O’Brien become so passionate about the welfare of others? “My mother [Iris O’Brien] is a serial protestor,” he told The University of the West Indies Class of 2015 when he was conferred with an honorary doctoral degree. “She took issue with President [Ronald] Reagan’s foreign policy towards Nicaragua in the 1980s. On the very day I sold my business in Ireland in 2000, my mother ordered me down to the Russian embassy to protest against the treatment of the Chechens.”

He continued: “As a child, she taught me about the developing world, and because of her my siblings and I felt a bond with those less fortunate… This philosophy has travelled with me to this very day. As far as I am concerned capitalism is broken. The greed that led to the Wall Street crash of 2008 reinforced that.”

The resolute philanthropist observed, “Ninety-five per cent of multinationals do nothing to give back to the developing world where they make their profits… If the truth be known, I admire social entrepreneurs far more than entrepreneurs because they make the biggest impact on society. Looking after the people, who in our busy lives we can’t look after, is surely the noblest cause.”

O’Brien lauded Jamaican exemplars: “In this country you are blessed with a rich seam of social entrepreneurs — people like Father Gregory from Mustard Seed, Michael Barnett from New Horizon Outreach Ministries, and Jason Henzell of Jakes Holdings.”

On a prophetic note, O’Brien assured the graduates that those with a leaning towards social entrepreneurship “will probably end up being far happier than many of your peers in the commercial world for one reason: helping those that can’t help themselves is way more fulfilling than making money.”

THE LEGACY OF FERDINAND MAHFOOD

Ferdinand “Ferdy” Mahfood’s religious conversion in 1976 was the inspiration behind the founding of Food For the Poor, planting the seeds of love and devotion 41 years ago that has spread to 19 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. Mahfood recently passed away at the age of 85.

With the love and support of his family, Mahfood established Food For the Poor in Florida on February 12, 1982. The organisation initially sent resources to Jamaica, where he had observed first-hand the plight of people suffering from poverty, disease, and the impact of natural disasters.

In his own words, Mahfood once explained what was going through his mind that was the catalyst for the birth of the charity. “This is not about any one of us,” said Mahfood, a devout Catholic. “This is about God. And Food For the Poor is an answer to God.”

Food For the Poor President/CEO Ed Raine expressed his profound sadness over the loss of Mahfood and said he leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion for the poor: “He planted the seeds when he answered God’s call. We are honoured to continue following this call more than 40 years later.”

Mahfood shared the credit for the creation of Food For the Poor with his three brothers Sam, Joe, and Robin. Their children and grandchildren continue to be actively involved in the organisation, with Andrew Mahfood chairing Food For the Poor Jamaica and William serving on the board. Our deepest condolence to his wife Patty and the Mahfood family. Rest in peace Ferdy Mahfood.

REMEMBERING BISHOP ROBERT THOMPSON

At every step of his ministry the late Bishop Thompson lived in service to his God and people, bringing hope to the most vulnerable. We are blessed that two years ago Bishop Thompson’s book Redemption Song: Reading the Scripture for Social Change was published. This column noted then that the retired Anglican bishop of Kingston has often given us a reality check on our social conditions and his book calls on his church community to take a different approach to theology.

In the book Bishop Thompson referred to “the deep legacy of colonialism” which he believed “continues to stifle” our national development. He challenged the established church to cast away Euro-American interpretations of scripture and share a theology that “embraces and affirms all people across class and culture”.

Bishop Thompson was an inspiring homilist and delivered several lectures. Please take the time to listen to his sermons and lectures on YouTube. This indefatigable worker for God was an accomplished intellectual and has given us a brilliant legacy.

Our deep sympathy to his wife Charmaine and family. May he rest in peace.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com