The Jamaica Volunteer participants will work at one or at several Catholic social service sites in Kingston the capital city of Jamaica.   Volunteers work with the elderly, the young, those with disabilities or in need.

NOTE:   The type of work may vary at each site, and not all sites are available at all times.   Volunteers must be prepared to assist wherever needed.  

THE PRIMARY SITES FOR VOLUNTEERS ARE:

▪  Missionaries of Charity Home:

Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity have a home for elderly and homeless in a poor urban area of downtown Kingston.  Volunteers would assist with feeding, cleaning & bathing, shaving of the men, sweeping, and miscellaneous tasks.   There will is also a need to visit and to spend quality time talking with and listening to the residents. 

▪  St. Margaret's Community Centre

St Margaret's Community is run by the St Patrick's Foundation and is located in a poor urban area of Kingston.   At the is located:  a school for at-risk primary and high school children, including pregnant teenagers with nursery; a sewing shop for young women and a woodwork shop for young boys;  a health clinic;  and a dining area which serves meals for local elderly.  Volunteers would assist at any or all of the areas which includes teaching and tutoring, assisting to serve meals and wash dishes, and helping as needed at the health clinic.

▪  Pre-Primary School at Riverton City

There is a small pre-primary school located in an economically poor area known as "Riverton City", which is a shanty town built on and next to the old Kingston city dump.   The school is located on a fenced compound and is a small four-classroom cement building, with an attached a health clinic for people of the area.   There is also a Vocational training centre in a separate building.   Volunteers would primarily teach and serve as teacher's aides for the small children of the school or assist in games and sports activities.   Volunteers could also help at the Health Clinic or at the vocational centre, if it is open.

▪  St. Monica's Home

St Monica's is a home run by the St Patrick's Foundation and located on the Mandela Highway in an area near Spanishtown, outside of Kingston.   It is a home for the elderly and for victims of Hanson’s disease (leprosy).   Volunteers would assist in feeding, cleaning and sweeping, writing letters and talking with and listening to the elderly residents.  

 

In the past Volunteers have been asked at the various sites to help in serving meals, washing or shaving, entertaining or writing letters, tutoring or physical education/ sports, health clinic assistance, and physical labour (painting, building, cleaning, etc.)