For the first time Jamaican community groups and charities will be able to raise funds for projects from contributors anywhere in the world using the English-speaking Caribbean’s first locally owned and operated crowd-funding website, isupportjamaica.com.
The site, established through a partnership between the country’s leading microfinance company, JN Small Business Loans Limited and the JN Foundation, went “live” on the weekend (Saturday, July 6) allowing people anywhere in the world to donate to developmental projects featured on the site.
A second phase, which allows people anywhere to lend funds to local micro entrepreneurs, will be ready in September.
Saffrey Brown, General Manager, JN Foundation says isupportjamaica.com creates a platform for Jamaica to develop solid partnerships beyond diplomatic ties to assist the nation with achieving its developmental targets.
“This is not a new approach to funding,” she says, “but it is taking an idea that has been working for many countries around the world, including Haiti and parts of Latin America, and transforming it into something which is uniquely Jamaican and designed to support our aspirations and development goals under the Vision 2030 plan. It provides a means for our Jamaicans abroad and indeed anyone in the world to partner with Jamaica and assist a project or entrepreneur when that phase is launched,” Ms. Brown said.
She explained that projects featured on the site will be selected through an application process, where local non-governmental organisations and groups complete an Expression of Interest form and submit to the Foundation for assessment. Persons and organisations may access the forms by emailing info@isupportjamaica.com and a form will be sent to them for completion.
Ms. Brown said profiles, which will also include information that describes the charitable projects and the entrepreneurs, will be uploaded to the site. Persons who sign up to I Support Jamaica, will be able to use a credit card to donate or lend money depending on whether they desire to contribute to a local project or provide a loan for an entrepreneur.
Underscoring that JNSBL is a social enterprise which upholds the mutuality concept framing the work of its parent organisation, the Jamaica National Building Society, Philip Bernard, General Manager of JNSBL said isupportjamaica.com emphasises JNSBL’s “mandate to promote the development of the micro and small business sector, through access to financial services, and by extension, the Jamaican economy.”
“What many of our communities and our people need is the access and the opportunity, as well as the understanding that there are people in our country and in the world who believe in their hopes and aspirations and will support them. This website facilitates that concept and we believe it will assist to address the constraints to growth of our communities and micro entrepreneurs.”
