The advent of the Internet
has undoubtely brought nations closer together in the past two decades. The
world wide web is such a critical element of the global village in which we now
live, that many of us couldn't imagine our lives without it.
Creating widespread access
to the technological advancements which have spurred significant developments
in communication, trade, business and international relations, is the reason
why "The Source" was developed.
Establised by Jamaica
National Building Society (JNBS), in collaboration with civic and other
partners, The Source is chain of
all-inclusive community resource centres that provide high quality
technological and social services to members of underserved communities across
Jamaica.
"There are thousands
of Jamaicans who do not have ‘ready
access’ to the Internet. In 2007, JNBS saw the need facilitate access and set
out on a mission to outfit the pilot centre in August Town, St. Andrew,"
says Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the JNBS Foundation.
That centre was handed
over to its partner, The University of the West Indies during 2011 and is now
called The UWI Mona Source.
Since the pilot, the JNBS
Foundation has replicated The Source
in four additional community across Jamaica – Marverly, Treasure Beach, Ocho
Rios, and Savanna-la-Mar.
"In five years we
have rolled our five centres and we’re extremely
grateful to our many partners who have shared in and contributed to
bringing the vision of The Source to fruition," Ms. Brown added.
Each centre operates as a
social enterprise which means that all of the profits made at The Source is used to sustain its
operations and develop social and skill training programmes that are tailored
to the needs of the residents they serve.
‘The
Super Source’
The fifth and largest of
the centres, nicknamed ‘The Super Source’, in Savanna-la-mar is the newest
member of the chain. The centre is located in the heart of four communities:
Russia, Barracks, Gully Bank and Grotto and is welcomed with a great deal of
ownership by all residents and beneficiaries.
In September 2012, The Source Savanna-la-mar was officially
opened by the Governor-General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen and became an I
Believe Centre. The I Believe Initiative is a values- based programme which is
committed to helping Jamaicans believe in themselves, develop their unlimited
potentials so they can achieve their personal objectives then positively help
others and Jamaica at large to be a wonderful place ‘to live, raise family and
do business’.
The
Source is here to stay…
The Source is one of the Foundation’s flagship projects. It
provides a avenue for JNBS and its partners to positively impact the lives of
our members the communities they serve. 
