JAMAICA

Through our research, we have located schools, orphanages, charities and organizations that welcome in-kind donations to assist in their endeavors. A number of these organizations have been visited. In many cases, we have relied on the information provided by volunteers, directors, and other individuals involved with these groups and we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Use the information you find here as a starting point for doing independent research on these organizations and determining which, if any, you would like to help on your travels.

Although these schools, charities and other organizations are listed on this site, neither the Family Travel Network nor its assigns or officers are responsible for the activities of these organizations or their members. Contact the organizations directly for more detailed information on their work. The Family Travel Network has no financial involvement in these organizations.

Black River/Negril Area/Mandeville, Jamaica:

Broughton School is a Basic school in the greater Negril area of Little London. The school serves 52 students between 3-7 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, backpacks,and other items, CD player with educational CDs, tape players with educational cassettes, puzzles, games, flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials.  The school's telephone number is (876) 387-5970.

Our Lady Of Hope Children’s Home houses about 30 children between the ages of 3 months and 15 years of age. Needs include children’s and teens clothing, personal hygiene items, children’s and adult Tylenol, children’s cold/cough medicine, band-aids, books, educational games, sports equipment, shoes, toys, underwear, backpacks, and school supplies. The contact information is Our Lady of Hope Children’s Home, P.O. Box 15, Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. For more information, visit their website at www.oloh-jamaica.org, or call (876) 965-9339.

Sandy Bay Basic School is located along the main road leading to Negril. This is a basic school for over 80 children between 3-7 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, and other items; CD player with educational CDs; tape players and educational cassettes with songs or stories to teach time, letters, numbers, etc.; puzzles; games; flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials; cooking and serving utensils; plastic plates, forks and spoons; and other items. For more information on the needs of this school, contact Chef or Libby at Chef Thompson Tours.

Savanna-La-Mar Hospital is a 150-bed public hospital approximately 20 minutes away from Negril. Their Pediatric Ward  and Maternity Wards need supplies and donations for the families and children there, including disposable diapers, sheets, baby blankets, baby clothes, wash cloths, soap, personal care items, diaper rash creams, neosporin, hydrocortisone creams, and other items. The hospital is located on Barracks Road and their phone number is (876) 955-2133 or 955-2533.

St. John Bosco Boys Home is located in Mandeville. The Home is owned and operated by the Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic order of Nuns committed to working with the poor, sick and uneducated. The Home educates and cares for approximately 150 boys. Needs include school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, pens, crayons, calculators, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, educational puzzles, flash cards, personal care items, children's and adults Tylenol, neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, and other items.  For more information, visit the Home's website at www.boscohome.tripod.com or call (876) 963-0611.

West End Basic School is located in the Negril area. This is a school for 93 children between 3-7 years of age. The school has limited facilities and supplies and needs such items as pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, puzzles, games, stickers, flash cards, and other educational/phonics teaching materials. Sports equipment and musical instruments are also needed. The phone number for the school is (876) 534-4449.

There are many other basic schools, primary schools and high schools located in this region. You can arrange for a visit on your own, or tour and transportation companies can arrange for visits to orphanages and local schools in the area. Some of these that do this on a regular basis are Talk of the Town Tours (talk with Sienna), Chef Thompson Tours (talk with Chef or Libby), Lee's Taxi and Tours (talk with Norma), and Clive's Transport Service (talk with Clive Gordon).

Montego Bay, Jamaica:

Anchovy School is a basic school serving 112 students located in Anchovy, a more rural area outside of Montego Bay. This is a convenient school to visit if you are planning to visit the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, also located in Anchovy. The school serves children between 3-7 years of age. The school's facilities are very limited and they in need of many items, including school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, backpacks,and other items, CD player with educational CDs, tape players with educational cassettes, puzzles, games, flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials.  The school's telephone number is (876) 956-4180.

Blossom Garden’s Child Care Centre is located on a hill above Montego Bay and houses 50-60 children from birth through ten years of age. This is a place where one can stay by prior arrangement for several hours or all day holding and feeding babies, playing with the children, and just helping out with whatever is needed. The administrator for this orphanage is Mrs. Brown, and she can be contacted at (876) 952-6068 Monday through Friday or by e-mail at blossomgch@yahoo.com. The Child Care Centre also houses a basic school for the children between 4-8 years of age. The orphanage warmly welcomes visits and donations. Contact Mrs. Brown at least 10 days in advance of your visit to let her know that you are coming and arrange for the best time to visit with the children. The orphanage’s needs include baby clothes and children’s clothes, diapers (disposable or cloth), children's shoes and socks, toys, books, children’s nursery items, crayons, modeling clay, reading books, backpacks, erasers, staplers, paper clips, glue sticks, phonic books, flash cards, educational tapes and CDs, tape players and CD players, puzzles, games, coloring books, activity books, construction paper, jump ropes, kites & balls, toys, band-aids, baby and children’s aspirins, children’s multi-vitamins, anti-bacterial creams and baby items. The address of the orphanage is 18-21 Appleton Hall, Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica. The orphanage is gated, so ring the bell to get in. The orphanage can be a bit difficult to find on one's own, so try to arrange for transportation in advance.  Transportation possibilities include Lee's Taxi and Tours, Chef Thompson Tours, and Clive's Transport Service.

Garland Hall Orphanage is located in the Montego Bay area and is home to 24 children. The orphanage needs a wide variety of items including children's clothing, children' shoes and socks, personal care items, educational toys and games, backpacks and school supplies. For more information, contact Edna Harty, Administrator, 876-956-4020, Mission Jamaica, dkiel@standrews.org.

The SOS Children's Villages are located near Montego Bay. The SOS Children's Village facility is about a ½-hour drive from Montego Bay going towards Ocho Rios. Currently the Village accommodates approximately 70 children in 8 family houses. It also has a Kinder-Prep School, Youth Facility for girls, Training Facility, which also doubles as a Guest House, and accommodation for staff. There is also a Youth Facility for boys, which is located in Montego Bay outside the Village Facilities. The Village has a Computer Lab, a Library, and a Learning Centre for children with learning difficulties. The SOS Jane Viera School in Montego Bay has about 80 children in 4 classrooms. Children range from 3 years of age and up. Needs include clothing, personal hygiene items, computer equipment, books, and skills training materials. For more information, visit the SOS Children’s Villages website at www.sos-jamaica.org, or contact the SOS Children’s Village of Jamaica Foundation, 26 Peter Pan Avenue, P.O. Box 654, Montego Bay, Jamaica. The telephone number is (876) 952-6215 or (876) 979-5850 and the e-mail address is sos.Jamaica@cwjamaica.com.

St. Ann's Bay/Runaway Bay/Ocho Rios area, Jamaica:

Salem Basic School is located in Runaway Bay. The school serves approximately 76 children between 3-6 years of age. The school's facilities are quite limited and a wide variety of supplies are needed, including pens, pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, colored markers, construction paper, glue sticks, paint, paint brushes, children’s scissors, backpacks,and other items, CD player with educational CDs, tape players with educational cassettes, DVD player, puzzles, games, arts & crafts supplies, Legos, flash cards and other educational/phonics teaching materials.  The school's telephone number is (876) 973-4969 or 876-353-0126. Visits are welcomed. The school is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but please call first to arrange a visit.

St. Ann's Bay Hospital is a 180-bed public hospital serving the St. Ann's Bay and Runaway Bay areas. Their Pediatric Ward  and Maternity Wards need supplies and donations for the families and children there, including disposable diapers, sheets, baby blankets, baby clothes, wash cloths, soap, personal care items, diaper rash creams, neosporin, hydrocortisone creams, and other items. The contact information for the hospital is: St. Ann's Bay Hospital, Main Street, St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, phone: 876-972-8872.

The Windsor Girls Home, funded by the Jamaican Government, is an orphanage for abused, orphaned and homeless girls ages 12-18. The Home is located in St. Ann’s Bay, and accommodates approximately 35-60 girls from all over the island of Jamaica. Classes at the home include cosmetology, dressmaking/sewing, computer skills, and home economics. Needs include books, school supplies, clothing and shoes for girls ages 12-18, toiletries and personal hygiene items, games, radios and CD players, sewing supplies, used computers, and other supplies. In addition, the girls enjoy receiving make-up kits, purses, hair bows and barrettes, inexpensive jewelry, and other items. The phone number of the Windsor Girls Home is (876) 972-2707. For more information about the Windsor Girls Home and their needs, see this article.

Tobolski Basic School is located in Brown's Town, within St. Ann's Parish. The school serves about 68 students between the ages of 3-7. The school needs such items as pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, construction paper, glue sticks, children’s scissors, puzzles, games, stickers, flash cards, and other educational/phonics teaching materials. Sports equipment and musical instruments are also needed. The school's principal is Lois Bartley and the phone number is (876) 381-7881.

Other orphanages in this area include the Widows Mite Orphanage in St. Ann’s Bay, and the Pringle Orphanage/Home, near Ocho Rios.

Throughout Jamaica:

Although Jamaica has a number of very modern and well-equipped primary and secondary schools, some of the schools in Jamaica are in desperate need of school supplies. One of TripAdvisor.com's Jamaica forum regulars put together a detailed contact list for many Basic schools located in Jamaica's most popular tourist areas. Basic schools serve local children between 3-7 years of age and some of these schools do not receive government funding. See this TripAdvisor.com link for more school listings and information: Jamaica: Contact info for Schools in Jamaica - TripAdvisor.

This same individual has also written an excellent article listing age-appropriate items needed by schools and orphanages in Jamaica, as well as some helpful tips for arranging visits and going through Jamaican customs. See this article for more details: Jamaica: Ideas For Helping Primary Schools - TripAdvisor.

Items that most schools can use include pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, colored markers, modeling clay, children's reading books, backpacks, paper clips, staplers, glue sticks, children's scissors, flash cards, educational CDs, puzzles, coloring books, activity books, stickers, construction paper, arts & crafts supplies, jump ropes, kites, balls, sporting goods equipment, band-aids, children's Tylenol, anti-bacterial creams, and children's vitamins.

You can arrange for a visit to a school or orphanage on your own, or tour and transportation companies can arrange for visits to orphanages and local schools in the area. Some tour companies that do this on a regular basis are Talk of the Town Tours (talk with Sienna), Chef Thompson Tours (talk with Chef or Libby), Lee's Taxi and Tours (talk with Norma), and Clive's Transport Service (talk with Clive Gordon).