Jps foundation connection july 2014

THE JPS FOUNDATION

A PUBLICATION OF THE JPS FOUNDATION

NO. 7

JULY 2014

WWW.MYJPSFOUNDATION.ORG

ENERGY RAP JPS Head, Projects Management and Engineering, David Cooke, raps with a student from the Charlie Smith High School during the school’s Environment Fair.

See more on Page 5.

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

PAGE 2 Contact us: 935-3514. foundation@jpsco.com. facebook.com/jpsfoundationja. twitter.com/jpsfoundationja

PAGE 5

2. YOUTH LEADERSHIP

LEADING WITH A

LOVE HAS no place in the boardroom. At least, that’s what many business leaders believe if they are to successfully manage and make that ever more profitable bottom line. For more than 20 years, JMMB has proved this thinking wrong and on Friday June 27 the financial institution’s Executive Director of Culture and Human Development, Mrs. Donna Duncan-Scott, showed the participants in our Young Women Leaders (YWL) programme that LOVE is an important part of leadership.

The YWLs — who were joined by

two JPS Foundation/EWP Scholarship recipients Deborah Fletcher and Rocque Ferguson as well as JPS Foundation beneficiary Sherry Perrier—experienced an uplifting session with Duncan-Scott whose calm and nurturing demeanour demonstrated that a kinder, more inclusive leadership format gets productive results.

In addition to an almost two-hour long chat, the ladies each read a paragraph of JMMB’s Vision Of Love—the ethos by which each JMMB team member operates in relation to themselves, their colleagues and their customers. 

Donna Duncan-Scott in discussion with the ladies, pictured in inset from top, Sherry Perrier, Shana-Kay Cunningham, Alshadane Wright, Rocque Ferguson, Deborah Fletcher and Kemesha Vassell.

3. EDUCATION

Principal of the Falmouth Gardens Basic School, Mrs. Margaret Gordon-Bennett (left), accepts the symbolic cheque from the JPS Team — St. Ann Parish Manager, Marvin Campbell; Snr. VP - Energy Delivery, Gary Barrow and Snr. VP, Customer and Corporate Services, Mrs. Sheree Martin.

REGION WEST proudly handed over a cheque for J$250,000 to the Falmouth Gardens Basic School, the Trelawny-based JPS Foundation Model School project.

In January 2014, Region West Community Relations Officer, Allaine Harvey, challenged his team to raise J$150,000 towards Phase 2 renovations at the school. The region enthusiastically answered and through Creativity and team work, surpassed the target by 60%!

Phase 2 will see the rewiring of the school, retrofitting with energy efficient fixtures and the introduction of an energy conservation programme for the teachers and children (and by extension, the parents and wider community). The labour will be provided by the Region West RPD group free of cost. 

ST. ANN FUNDRAISER: On March 3, the St. Ann team held a Fish Fry, topped off with a soup and pastry sale.

WESTMORELAND FUNDRAISER: A Luncheon on February 27 and a Fish Fry the following day was Westmoreland’s first effort.

The team then flipped that profit to host another Fish Fry on April 17.

ST. JAMES FUNDRAISER: St. James engaged its team members with a showing of the action adventure flick, ‘47 Ronin’ at a Movie Night on April 3.

HANOVER FUNDRAISER: A Cake sale in early April was Hanover’s first fundraiser. Also, a raffle was conducted on April 11 at the parish office. Up for grabs were a 32 inch TV, a BB Z10 phone and a Microwave.

TRELAWNY FUNDRAISER: The school also received two fire extinguishers as part of the Foundation’s commitment to safety at the institution.

Trelawny team members delighted in a one–month Pastry sale during March 2014.

4. ENERGY EDUCATION

THIRD FORM students at the Hampton School are lending their thoughts to the national electricity theft debate through the JPS Foundation Energy Angel Challenge presently in activation at the St. Elizabethbased institution.

The students delivered thought provoking essays speaking to the impact of electricity theft on Jamaica’s energy security as part of the Challenge’s elimination round which saw 10 students moving forward to

KWESIANN REGENT

Electricity theft is a prevalent issue in Jamaica. It has a humongous impact on Jamaica’s energy security. If everyone steals and is not willing to pay for the extraordinary service received from Jamaica’s huge source of electrical energy, the whole country will surrender. It is highly possible that Jamaica will return to the days of Tilly lamps and lanterns… Everyone needs to lessen this impact, as in the end it affects the country as a whole. Everyone has to cooperate to have a secure energy panel.

compete in the final ‘bills reduction’ segment, that will lead to one student being crowned an ‘Energy Angel’.

Of those 10 winning essays, Head of the school’s Science Department Mrs. Sandra Lord selected the top three, highlights of which we are pleased to share.

In May, the JPS Foundation launched the challenge to help the students better understand issues within the energy sector, including electricity theft, safety, efficiency

and conservation, in its continued support of the school’s bold renewable energy project.

The selected Energy Angel will be the student whose electricity bill reflects the most savings in usage and money through energy efficient methods for the three month period of June, July and August 2014. JPS Foundation Energy Mentors are guiding these students in practising safe energy efficiency techniques during the period. 

ALICIA FERGUSON

Since the introduction of electricity to Jamaica, life has been much easier … Let’s face it, electricity is needed in everyday life, so what happens when we steal it? Every year billions of dollars of electricity is stolen. Stealing electricity is not only a crime, but has many other effects.

In addition to the breaches of the law, customers lose money due to electricity theft and our energy sources are often overused. these billions of dollars that JPS loses each year could have been used to enhance the country’s energy saving methods, for example, the use of wind and solar energy to provide electricity.

LETICA HALL

I personally need the energy provided

by JPS to help me with my assignments. However, if JPS continues to lose that much money, I will be severely affected…. If everyone uses energy wisely, we will all benefit by reduced debt and wastage of electricity. I remember a great hero’s motto “One God, One Aim, One Destiny” – if we won’t cooperate, we will be the losers when the JPS can no longer be a public service company for Jamaica.

That will simply be another tale to tell the next generations to come.”

5. ENERGY EDUCATION

A TEAM of JPS experts helped to educate Charlie Smith High School students on sustainable energy practices during the school’s annual Environment Fair on June 11. Talks by Environment, Health and Safety Officer, Al Pilliner, and Head of Generation, John Kistle, as well as one-on-one interactions by other members of the team helped the students to better understand JPS’ sustainable energy policies as well as introduced them to issues in renewable energy. Here are the pictorial highlights! 

6. STAFF RECOGNITION

HIGH VOLTage: Kevin Smith

JPS CUSTOMER Care Manager for St. Elizabeth, Kevin Smith, is one of four JPS Energy Mentors presently assisting Hampton students who are finalists in the JPS Foundation Energy Angels Challenge.

Learn more about this giving leader

“Volunteering has broadened my horizon and has also helped to sharpen my leadership skills. To galvanise volunteer support around a process takes great leadership”

Why have you volunteered to be an Energy Mentor?

I am volunteering because I know that, as a nation, we have to start doing something about our propensity to consume. What better place to start than with the future leaders and with energy, the most impactful cost driver in our economy?

that will enable these students to apply the principles and also to pass it on to their parents and neighbours.

What do you hope to impart to the students?

I hope to impart lifelong conservation tips

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope that I will be better able to under-

stand what drives the consumption of energy at that demographic level. In doing so I will be in a better position to help our customers use energy wisely.

How has volunteering impacted your life?

Volunteering has broadened my horizon and has also helped to sharpen my leadership skills. To galvanise volunteer support around a process takes great leadership skills.

What do you think is the impact of the JPS Foundation?

I think that given the age of the JPS Foundation, it has made great strides so far. Given a few more years, it will be a force to be reckoned with. 

7. COMMUNITY

On Sunday June 22, a touching graduation ceremony was held for the Rebirth Project, a nineweek programme that reached out to and changed the lives of ‘at risk’ girls and boys between the ages of 13 and 14 attending the Tivoli and Norman Manley High Schools. JPS volunteers closely assisted workshop presenters and organising team, monitored students and encouraged participation.

On graduation day, JPS Foundation Manager, Nathelie Taylor, presented an award and a book grant valued at J$30,000 to Alafia Adams, seen above, who was deemed the Most Improved Child for the programme.

NOTICE THIS RED APPLE? CONNECTION

REACHES MORE THAN

3,000 READERS

IN ALL

14 PARISHES THROUGH MAJOR

MEDIA CHANNELS

ADVERTISE IN CONNECTION AND GET NOTICED TOO! BOOK your desired size ad no less than ten (10) days before the next publication date.

SUBMIT artwork to foundation@jpsco.com in JPG or EPS format. Artwork must be camera-ready, at least 300 DPI resolution and emailed no less than seven (7) days before the next publication date.

PAY via cheque made payable to the JPS Foundation, 6 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5.

CONTACT THE JPS FOUNDATION FOR MORE DETAILS: 6 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5 935-3514/935-3531 foundation@jpsco.com nataylor@jpsco.com/slambert@jpsco.com