Community

UPLIFT, ENGAGE, EMPOWER

Our communities are the life blood of our islands and their economies.

We work tirelessly with individuals and organizations in the neighborhoods and towns where our resorts are located. The issues at hand are far reaching in the Caribbean. Particularly in Jamaica these issues have been well documented, not limited by age or gender and often include:

• Inner city crime and violence
• Poverty
• Educational underachievement
• Disaffected youth
• Health and access to health services
• Training and employment of the work force

Most of our nearby communities are challenged by some or all of these issues. The Sandals Foundation presents us with so many opportunities to do what we can to tackle these issues and to make things better. Over the years we have worked tirelessly in our communities to do just that.

We have built computer labs and community centers, developed training programs that give people a chance and change lives; we organize free health clinics; we adopt senior citizens and we encourage youth through sports; we cherish children orphaned by AIDS – our commitment really is unquestionable. And we are committed because we care.

Help us to make a difference by donating to some of our projects:

Marchand Boulevard (St. Lucia)

St. Lucia's Marchand Boulevard is an extremely poverty stricken community with little signs of a bright future for its children. For the past four years, Ms. Virgil Leonty, a resident of Marchand Boulevard, has undertaken a Children's Literacy and Breakfast Feeding Program within the community. The Program is administered on the side of the Marchand Boulevard roadway and the Sandals Foundation has committed to providing a Community Center to enhance Ms. Leonty's generous donation of her time, her resources, her energy and her compassion which have helped to create something priceless in St. Lucia's Marchand Boulevard-hope. At the Sandals Foundation it is our mission to support community initiatives, such as Virgil Leonty's Children's Literacy Program, because we believe that projects such as these can inspire others, transform lives and uplift an entire community.

Great Shape! Inc. Project (Jamaica, Ocho Rios; Montego Bay & Whitehouse)

This Sandals partnership with Great Shape! Inc. has expanded beyond the 1000 Smiles Program to include SuperKids, a Literacy Program, and the new iCare Program being rolled out this year. The 1000 Smiles program saw over 17,000 free treatments administered in 2008 across Jamaica.  With the three separate programs already confirmed for September and October 2009, it is anticipated that over 20,000 persons will benefit this year.
View our Great Shape video.

Flanker Peace & Justice Center (Montego Bay)

This 10,000 strong inner city community has continued to benefit from the Sandals Resorts intervention. With the assistance to build and support the community's Peace and Justice Center over 3,500 persons directly utilize the facility each month for homework sessions; mentorship and as a resource center. The Sandals/Flanker Training and Recruitment Tier initiative provides training and jobs for unskilled youths emanated from within the community and regular community activities involve Girls' Day Outreach Sessions; Health Fairs; Environmental Awareness Programs;  Scholarships; Customer Service Training; Sponsoring of Sporting events and Annual Christmas Treats for children and the elderly.

Christmas Toy Drive (Caribbean Region)

Through corporate partnerships and team member support, our annual distribution of toys to adopted schools; Girls/Boys Homes; etc. touches over ten thousand children each year across the Caribbean.

Sandals Cricket Academy (St. Lucia)

This annual program utilizes past West Indian players to coach young Under-15 cricketers in cricketing camps. Each year 25 youth are selected and participate in additional life skills training sessions such as public speaking and healthy lifestyles sessions emphasizing the "Winning/Can-Do" attitude.  In 2008 thirteen boys from this Academy were selected for the Under-17 National side in St. Lucia.

Animal Shelter (Jamaica, Ocho Rios)

Working with and establishing animal care awareness through upgrading of animal shelter and introducing Spaying and Neutering programs to enhance animal life in Jamaica.

Mentorship Program (Jamaica)

Sandals and Beaches Resorts have over the years provided mentorship to several Boys/Girls Homes and students within each of its resort regions. The program is now being streamlined to become sustainable with planned monthly visits to approximately five (5) homes. Mentorship is provided by way of positive interaction from trained Sandals Foundation team members and include homework sessions; sporting activities; grooming and life-skills sessions as well as birthday celebration and Christmas treats. This program impacts over 200 youths in institutions such as the Windsor Girls Home; Steer Town Primary & Junior High; Granville Place of Safety and Clifton Boys Home.

Provo Children's Home (Turks & Caicos)

The Provo Children's Home is a residential care facility in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Established in March 2006 as a long-term orphanage, the focus has changed to include all children in need of a safe environment. The home currently has seven great kids between the ages of 6 - 15 years old. After Hurricane damage to the home in 2008, the children and caregivers have been living in two different locations since that time which is a temporary solution to the problem. The goal is to establish a safe and the therapeutic environment for children in need. This includes educational, emotional, physical and spiritual support and care.

Infirmaries/Hospice Support (Jamaica)

Assistance to Infirmaries/Hospice - working with the elderly and confined. Our elderly are just as important and still needs to feel a part of our society. Quarterly visits/treats are now organized to allow Sandals Foundation team members to positive share with senior citizens at the St. Mary's Infirmary; the St. Ann Infirmary; the Saint James Hospice and the Savanna la Mar Infirmary.