– APRIL 2019 –
INSIDE Y UR VM
V I C TO R I A M U T UA L G R O U P
RELENTLESSLY
COMMITTED TO UPLIFTING JAMAICANS
CONTENTS
4 6 8 10
VM Foundation Champions Student Safety via NLPB
WE’VE BEEN HARD AT WORK FOR YOU!
VM Youth Awardee makes generous donation
Your Victoria Mutual Group has had an active start to 2019. We are more committed than ever to our purpose of empowering our Members and clients to own their homes and achieve financial independence. We have been hard at work, supporting programmes and crafting some of our own that will uplift our fellow Jamaicans.
Victoria Mutual Launches 100% Mortgage Solution for Specialised Groups
This issue of Inside Your VM showcases some of our stand-out activities that took place in the first quarter of the year. We hope you enjoy and we look forward to sharing even more good news in the months to come.
VM Encourages Financial Wellness via Dynamic School Tour
Credits Produced by Group Corporate Affairs and Communications
6
Jody Shoots for Lime Hall
02
INSIDE YOUR VM
INSIDE YOUR VM
03
COMMITTED TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE At Victoria Mutual we are committed to ensuring that service excellence is delivered to our Members and Clients at ALL points of contact across the VM Group. With this as our motivation, we conducted Service Excellence training sessions with members of our Security Team across the VM Group in March. The all-day sessions aimed to ensure that our security personnel are part of our group-wide dedication to providing you, our treasured Members and Clients with the very best experience whenever you visit us. Here are some highlights from the training session held on Saturday, March 23.
VM Foundation Champions Student Safety via NLPB The VM Foundation-sponsored National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB) was held on January 17, at the Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, under the theme ‘I Pledge’. The theme was inspired by Dr John C. Keane’s book ‘I Promise’, in which he takes an in-depth look at Jamaica’s national pledge and expresses excitement about the role it could play in nation building. The beneficiary of this year’s breakfast was the PMI’s Violence Prevention/Safe Schools Project. The purpose of the Safe Schools Monitors Programme is to provide greater security and support to pedestrian students travelling home from school in the Kingston Central Police Division. Here are some highlights from this year’s breakfast.
04
INSIDE YOUR VM
INSIDE YOUR VM
05
The purpose of the Safe Schools Monitors Programme is to provide greater security and support to pedestrian students travelling home from school
THE FOUNDATION, WHICH AIMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF JAMAICANS AT HOME AND IN THE DIASPORA, WILL FOCUS ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT; LEADERSHIP AND NATION BUILDING; AND HEALTH AND FAMILY.
Jody shoots for Lime Hall VM Y.O.U.T.H. Awardee makes generous donation Jody Brown, the diminutive but deadly footballer was the recipient of the VM Y.O.U.T.H. Award at the RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards held in January. The award is presented to outstanding young athletes who are paving their own path to greatness. The award comes with a cash prize of $250,000. Jody, however is attending high school in the United States and is prohibited from accepting cash prizes. She therefore decided to make a selfless gesture by asking that the money be donated to two institutions that helped to mould her as both a person and a footballer – Lime Hall Primary and Infant School, and the St Ann Football Association. Days after making the presentation, Jody visited the Victoria Mutual HalfWay Tree location with her father and assistant manager of the Reggae Girlz, Sherona Forrester. Here are some highlights from the handover and visit.
06
INSIDE YOUR VM
INSIDE YOUR VM
07
JODY BROWN FACT FILE • Sixteen years old • Grew up in Lime Hall, St Ann • Scored 21 goals as a 12-year-old at CONCACAF Under-15 tournament in 2014. • Only female player on her primary school’s (Lime Hall) football team • Attends Montverde Academy in Florida, USA • Scored hat-trick against Cuba at the 2018 CONCACAF Championships • Named best young player at the championships
Reggae Girl Jody Brown in action Source: concacaf.com
VICTORIA MUTUAL LAUNCHES 100% MORTGAGE SOLUTION FOR SPECIALISED GROUPS
The Mortgage Solution would benefit persons with the ability and the discipline to service a mortgage loan but have been unable to access a mortgage benefit due to financial constraints.
Victoria Mutual Building Society has launched a 100% Mortgage Solution for Specialised Groups. The new mortgage product, which aims to help more Jamaicans achieve the goal of home ownership, was launched at a press conference held on Friday March 29, 2019 at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston. President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Victoria Mutual Group Courtney Campbell said the new product was in keeping with Victoria Mutual’s commitment to helping Jamaicans own their homes and achieve financial independence. He explained that the 100% Mortgage Solution for Specialised Groups would benefit persons who have both the ability and the discipline to service a mortgage loan but have been unable to access a mortgage benefit due to financial constraints. This group includes ambitious selfemployed persons with micro businesses, such as plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, taxi owners and contract workers. “We don’t believe that they should be denied the joys of home ownership. So, we came up with a solution,” said Campbell. “The 100% Mortgage 08
INSIDE YOUR VM
INSIDE YOUR VM
Victoria Mutual has set aside $1.4 Billion to fund this offer, in its 140th year of operations and as part of its mission to increase the number of Jamaicans who own their homes.
09
Solution for Specialised Groups demonstrates our commitment to making home ownership accessible to more Jamaicans,” he added. Campbell noted that two years ago, Victoria Mutual launched 97% mortgage financing and that this new solution is another step to help more persons to own their homes. Victoria Mutual has set aside $1.4 Billion to fund this offer, in its 140th year of operations and as part of its mission to increase the number of Jamaicans who own their homes. Vice President - Sales and Service at Victoria Mutual Building Society Paul Elliott explained that borrowers can access up to J$15m to purchase residential property and up to J$3m to purchase land, at an interest rate of 8.5% per annum. The product offers a flexible repayment schedule - weekly, fortnightly and monthly. “Victoria Mutual will partner with Members along their journey, providing the financial education and guidance they need,” he said. “This is in keeping with VM’s key differentiator of empowering our Members through education because we care.” Here are some highlights from the product launch.
VM Encourages Financial Wellness via Dynamic School Tour In keeping with our mission to increase financial inclusion and provide financial education, the Victoria Mutual Group has partnered with Patrice White and her Dynamic Lifestyle wellness brand for the Dynamic Mental Health School Marathon Series. The series aims to change the narrative around mental health issues in this country, with focused attention placed on young people. The series will travel to high schools across the country bringing the message of mental wellness and overall wellbeing to the students. VM will feature prominently
at each location and team members will make presentations to the students on developing positive financial habits and achieving financial wellness. We will also have a booth at each stop in the series where students may access information on financial matters and the VM Foundation scholarship programme. The series officially kicked off on Friday March 22 with over 1,500 students at St Andrew Technical High School. There was a soft launch at Ardenne High a week earlier. Here are some highlights:
10
INSIDE YOUR VM