Supporters may donate securely on our donation page.

Computers for Schools, Jamaica

We support youth empowerment through education and technology. We are therefore eager for our cause “Computers for Schools, Jamaica” to become fully funded.

Our campaign “Computers for Schools, Jamaica” aims to give a computer to each of thirteen schools in western Jamaica. This is a pilot program that we seek to expand in the coming year. The approximate cost is $8000.00 and our first goal is to raise $10,000.00

We will update our website to include information about each school that benefits from the program.

Please help us make this project possible by asking a few of your artist friends to give signed albums or art. These will be used as thank you gifts to donors at the $100.00/$500.00/ and $1000.00 level or auctioned off to support the program. Help us spread the word about this project on twitter, facebook, etc. Check out “Computers for Schools, Jamaica” on Causes.com & join with us in making a difference.

Give generously, ask your friends to give, and ask your employer to match your tax deductible gifts.

Business Development Incubator (Two Sites)

Project Goals
The goal of the project is to improve business opportunities for target communities, by providing economic incentives for micro and small rural enterprises.

In providing these incentives, we will encourage the most promising local business ideas, and then monitor and nurture them so as to grow them into viable self-sustaining businesses. We use a community development approach to economic development, by mobilizing community members to take an active role in determining market interventions including:

• Building the productive capacity of communities by helping participants establishmarket linkages, offer business related training and assistance, and collect and share business and market information.
• Organizing participants to address common constraints to the development of viablebusinesses.
• Connecting rural business and communities to markets and other economic opportunities.
• Providing grants and micro loans to participants involved in viable income-generating activities.

Expected Outputs

• A thorough assessment of the market to determine areas for program interventions.
• An assessment of the business environment to establish baseline data and targets for project indicators.
• Series of training courses for the business development center employees in organizational development, financial management, community development, and market research enabling employees to provide quality advice to rural entrepreneurs developed and implemented.
• A minimum of four, one-week business training sessions per year for program participants and development center staff.
• Consulting services tailored to Community Development staff will be provided by volunteers to address areas of need.
• Community groups will be encouraged to implement strategies that generate income.
• Business skills with particular emphasis on enterprise management and marketing will be taught to the center staff thereby improving their skills and abilities.

Expected Results

• Each business team will become self sustaining and self prorogating and closely linked in order to share resources.
• The businesses created and communities are linked to viable markets.
• Community participants are organized to address development constraints.
• An increase in per annum income (compared to that reported in the fact book) evidenced among program participants
• Income generating enterprises developed
• Productive capacity of communities enhanced.

Illustrative Indicators

• Number of jobs created.
• Number of new businesses, new markets, and new products.
• Number of people receiving technical advice or services.

2012 Budget – $250,000.00 per site (Jamaica, US) Supporters are encouraged to give to the Business Development Incubator Fund.

Micro-Loan Small Business Development

Micro-loans are important mechanisms that enable individuals to develop self-sustaining micro businesses that benefit families and communities. Hope River.Org needs to build capacity to provide on-site oversight, training, and administrative/reporting functions wherever it serves.

We therefore encourage potential supporters to give to the Micro-Loan Small Business Development Fund.

Dental Clinic Fund

We have completed a dental clinic in Kazakhstan and wish to start similar clinics where needed. We therefore encourage supporters to give to the Dental Clinic Fund.