Digicel donates J$16.5 million to Mustard Seed Communities
Published:Friday | February 15, 2019 | 12:00 AM
The staff and residents of the Mustard Seed Communities are gearing up for the construction of a new multipurpose centre at their St Catherine-based Jerusalem residential care facility for children with special needs. This is after receiving a J$16.5 million grant from Digicel Chairman Denis O’Brien through the Digicel Foundation.
The funds were handed over to founder of the Mustard Seed Communities, Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon, at the Digicel headquarters in downtown Kingston last month.
The new multipurpose centre will house an art therapy room, an arts and craft and woodworking workshop, a home economics centre, distance learning, a computer-education area for residents and staff, a large multipurpose reception hall, storage room, an office, a gift shop, and a classroom for adult literacy.
Second Of Its Kind
The centre will be the second of its kind to be built by the Digicel Foundation for Mustard Seed, following the construction of Jacob’s Ladder in St Ann, completed in 2014. The Jacob’s Ladder facility was established to expand the scope of skills training being offered to adult residents with special needs. In addition, six residential cottages were constructed on the property to expand the living facilities.
“After seeing how much the facilities enhanced the day-to-day lives of staff and residents at Jacob’s Ladder, we’re so happy to be able to do the same for the group at the Jerusalem Community,” said an enthused Darcy Tulloch- Williams, executive director of Mustard Seed Communities Jamaica.
She continued, “Oftentimes, the special-needs community is ignored. However, Digicel and Mr O’Brien are always there to assist, and for that, we’re very grateful.”
Founder and patron of the Digicel Foundation, Denis O’Brien, said, “Through this partnership with Mustard Seed, we continue to enhance the lives of persons with special needs. Valuable skills will be learnt here, skills that will empower and prepare our young people to participate in the society and lead wholesome, productive lives.”