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The Partnership Jamaica PonyUp campaign has closed, but you can still make a gift!
Just visit https://give.boisestate.edu/ and use GR113 in the Fund ID space.
We are a group of Boise State University students and alumni who have participated in an alternative break trip called Partnership Jamaica. This trip is coordinated through the Student Involvement and Leadership Center at Boise State University and is an intensive service experience focused on making a positive difference in the lives of others by building better communities and strengthening international relations by building better schools.
Each year a group of 17 students dedicate their spring semester to learning about Jamaican culture, politics, history and social issues. While in Jamaica during spring break, they work alongside local craftsmen, parents, teachers and community members to build and refurbish schools (classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, bathrooms, etc.) to provide safe educational environments that facilitate learning. Students work in both urban and rural locations on the island in partnership with school leadership and community members to address their specific needs each year.
We approach this work with an “it takes a village” mentality. Year to year we continue to build on the projects previous groups and other partner universities have set out to finish. Some projects have taken longer than anticipated because of the lack of funding and resources. While progress may be slow, the right tools and equipment will go a long way to help us finish projects by hiring professional plumbers and electricians and to help us take on new and larger projects.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Trip participants pay for their own travel, lodging and food, but we need your help to raise $5,000 to cover construction costs:
Costs for equipment and materials are much higher in Jamaica than in the U.S., often making it difficult for schools to afford any structural improvements. A school principal, who makes less than $4,000 a year, does what they can with the limited resources and funding provided to keep the school running. However, if schools do not meet government standards, such as maintaining separate eating and teaching spaces for students, they are not eligible for funding, leaving many schools dilapidated and overcrowded.
Additionally, pre-schools and kindergartens are completely ineligible for government funding, leaving it up to the communities themselves to fund and maintain educational environments for their youngest children. Families in these communities often struggle to provide food and clothing for their children, so even the small tuition required for a family to send their child to kindergarten becomes a barrier.
Every dollar helps us towards our goal. Please consider making a donation to help our team make an impact in this little corner of the world. You can also help us by spreading the word about our project by using the icons at the top of the page to share with your friends, family and colleagues.
A donation at this level will help cover the cost of one new bucket. Buckets help us transport materials and concrete and due to their heavy use, they often break. Donors at this level will receive a virtual high five and the thanks and appreciation of the team.
A donation at this level will help cover the cost of one new shovel, an essential tool to mix concrete by hand at the site. In addition to our thanks and appreciation, a donation at this level will receive an email update from the team while in Jamaica this spring.
Cement and concrete block are common building materials in Jamaica. A donation at this level will help us build lasting walls, floors and pathways for the schools and receive a personalized shout out on our social media in addition to the rewards listed above.
We not only want to build the schools, we want to make them inviting for the students and staff. Help us with a donation for paint, brushes and other supplies and we will send you a personalized thank you card from the 2016 Partnership Jamaica team in addition to the rewards listed above.
A donation at this level will help us purchase one new wheelbarrow. Wheelbarrows are hard to come by and make a huge impact on the amount of work we can accomplish. In addition to the rewards listed above, you'll receive behind the scenes video updates from the team while they are in Jamaica this spring.
Help us take our projects to the next level. A donation at this level will allow us to hire electricians and plumbers, skills we do not have. To thank you for your contribution we will send you a handmade memento from the island in addition to the rewards listed above.
Projects that require lumber are usually postponed because they are too expensive. A donation at this level will help us to take on larger projects at the schools, such as roof repairs and room expansions. To show our appreciation we'll send you a video message from a Principal or community member impacted by your support in addition to the rewards listed above.
Sometimes it takes an influx of funds to help get a project to completion. A donation at this level will help us rent equipment, hire professional tradesmen, and put the finishing touches on projects that are beyond our capabilities. In addition to the rewards listed above, donors at this level will receive a personalized thank you video from the students, teachers, and principal of the school where the project was completed.