THE JPS FOUNDATION
CONNECTION A PUBLICATION OF THE JPS FOUNDATION
NO. 2
FEBRUARY 2015
WWW.MYJPSFOUNDATION.ORG
THE BUZZ ABOUT BIZTOWN PAGE 2
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Contact us: 935-3514. foundation@jpsco.com. facebook.com/jpsfoundationja. twitter.com/jpsfoundationja
2. ENERGY EDUCATION
CAPTION Students from the John Mills Primary and St. Andrew Primary Schools participate in a tour of the Old Harbour Power Plant in February.
THE BUZZ ABOUT BIZTOWN THE EXPERIENTIAL Junior Achievement Biztown programme is off to a great start, with more than 1,000 primary school students learning key elements of business operations. JPS, through the JPS Foundation, has been playing a key role in this initiative by providing students with a close-up, hands on look at the energy business. In February, the Foundation hosted close to 60 students from five schools, including Constant Spring Primary, John Mills Primary, St. Andrew Primary and Maxfield Park Primary in Kingston, as well as the Clarendon-based Cross Primary School. Additionally, expert volunteers were also on hand at Biztown’s Caenwood Centre venue to help orientate students from the Seward Primary School and Balcombe Drive Primary School into their assigned roles. While the programme aims to advance students knowledge about the energy sector, JPS volunteers have also benefitted from being associated with the training process. Meter Reader, Barrington Williams, for instance notes that “I am so happy to have had the chance to help the children at Biztown. This is a great programme and I was proud to be a JPS volunteer.”
BIZTOWN TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
JPS experts happily offered their time to help train students from the Reach Academy during their tour of the Hunts Bay Power Plant on January 29. Seen here helping out are (clockwise from top): Al Pilliner, Courtney Whyte, Ricardo Brown, Kelly Tomblin, Gina Tomlinson and Rebecca Harper. Special thanks to the Hunts Bay Power Plant team for facilitating this activity.
5. ENERGY EDUCATION
“I LOVE MY LIGHT” POWERS UP STUDENTS DOZENS OF High school students showed off their dancing skills in February for the chance to win up to JA$100,000 in cash and prizes in the “I Love My Light” High School Dance Competition endorsed by the JPS Foundation. The inaugural staging of the competition was open to the 15 high schools that are a part of the islandwide JPS Foundation’s Energy Clubs programme, launched November 2014 to help
students better understand issues in energy. Teams of no less than three dancers from the schools performed dynamic dancing feats to the ‘I Love My Light’ song, which was produced by ‘Trevor Off-Key’, also known as DJ Bambino. The catchy tune forms part of JPS’ national energy conservation campaign as it speaks to managing one’s energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency.
Second and third place winners will respectively receive J$50,000 and J$25,000 in cash and prizes. As of Friday February 27, persons can catch the dances online and vote for their favourite at the JPS Foundation Facebook page (http:// www.facebook.com/JPSFoundationJa until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. The combined points of online voting and Judges’ scores will determine the winners.
6. COMMUNITY
EWP SPONSORS JPS BANNABAGS DONATION JPS SHAREHOLDER, EWP, once again demonstrated their commitment to education and youth development through their sponsorship of 30 JPS BannaBags to residents of the Salvation Army Nest. The presentation was made on Friday January 30, with 10 of the children present to receive their one-of-a-kind bags. EWP Executive Auditor, Yo Sik Kang, remarked that “we are pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor the JPS BannaBags project and to present 30 BannaBags to children of the Salvation Army NEST.” “EWP is committed to the development of Jamaica and the welfare of its citizens and we seek to be involved in programmes that allow Jamaica’s children and young adults the opportunity to access quality education.”
The BannaBags social initiative is the brainchild of JPS Social Media and Online Communications Manager Tricia Williamson. Since 2014, the project has transformed unused vinyl banners into attractive, sturdy and waterproof bags which present an alternative to traditional schoolbags for children in need of support. This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Garmex Academy, Heart Trust NTA. The vinyl banners are provided by JPS and more than 30 corporate donors. It provides temporary employment and helps to reduce our carbon footprint by breathing new life into an old item. In October 2014, the BannaBags project placed second in the category for Environmental Sustainability at the annual National Innovation Awards.
ABOVE: EWP Executive Auditor, Yo Sik Kang and JPS Chairman Jin Won Kim, share thoughts on the high quality of the JPS BannaBags, displayed before being presented to the students. RIGHT and LEFT: EWP Representative, Geun Tee Kim, is as excited about giving the bag as the student is about receiving it, while at left EWP Executive Auditor, Yo Sik Kang, admires this stunning yellow BannaBag as he hands it to a smiling resident of the Home.
7. ENERGY EDUCATION
TEAM JPS was among a group of experts from varying professions who presented on career opportunities at the Denham Town High School’s Annual Career Day expo in February. Manager, HR Business Services, Silina Patterson, shared an overview of what it is like working in the energy sector and the qualifications needed to enter the field. She noted that several professions were needed in the industry, including roles associated with technology, security and law. She especially stressed the
need for Mathematics and English Language and encouraged the attentive students to ensure they pass those core subjects. Following her general outlook, KSAN Field Services Manager, Renaldo Chambers, spoke about Engineering and highlighted the various branches of engineering that students could embark on. Wrapping up the interactive session was Applications Administrator and JPS Foundation Board Director, Camille Lumsden -Dwyer, who shared the significance of technology to the energy business.