2020
MSBM makes contribution to Elsie Bemand Home for Girls
In fulfilment of one of our core values of civic responsibility, the faculty and staff of Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) seeks to engage in community and service projects that link our campus teaching and learning to civic responsibility and community well-being.
Over the years, teams of staff members have come together on projects supporting the education and well-being of children through contributions of furniture and material to enhance physical facilities and stimulation through reading at the early childhood level. Additionally, staff have contributed personal care items to teenaged girls in state care.
2018
MSBM gives back to Vauxhall High School
On Tuesday, October 2, 2018, representatives of Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) visited Vauxhall High School and made a presentation of 40 combination desk/chairs. The contribution is part of MSBM’s outreach programme for the development of education in communities. Mrs. Marvalyn Campbell, Manager, Facilities and Support Services, MSBM is a proud past student of Vauxhall High School and was part of the team that made the presentation. The gift was received by Principal Prudence Brown-Pinnock and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Christopher Honeywell. Both were very appreciative of the contribution and expressed their gratitude to the School.
2017
MSBM concludes Outreach Project at Fort George Early Childhood Institute
Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) concluded its 2016/17 outreach initiative dubbed “MSBM Outreach Day” on July 15, 2017 at the Fort George Early Childhood Institute, Fort George, Annotto Bay, St Mary. MSBM staff and faculty from both the Mona and Western Jamaica campuses joined together with helping hands and volunteering hearts to repave the school’s walkway, paint several areas of the school, refurbish the swing set, install water storage tanks and renovate the sanitary facilities. MSBM’s staff members and friends donated: educational toys and school supplies; educational devices and teaching aids; utensils and small appliances; building supplies and gave monetary contributions.
Donations were also received from Blue Power Group Ltd (water tank), Tastee, Excelsior Jamaica Biscuit Company, C.B. Foods, Mae’s Catering; and Lasco iCool provided refreshments for the volunteers, and UWI Maintenance provided transportation of the items. The Project - one of MSBM’s Strategic Initiatives - began in April 2016 and concluded July 2017. The Project was executed in three phases.
2016
MSBM Outreach Day 2016
The School embarked on phase one of its major outreach initiative dubbed “MSBM Outreach Day” on April 21, 2016 at the Fort George Early Childhood Institute, Fort George, Annotto Bay, St Mary. Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) staff from both the Mona and Western Jamaica campuses turned out in support of the initiative. The school’s staff members and friends donated: educational toys and school supplies; educational devices; utensils and small appliances for use in the preparation of meals for the children; toiletries; an 800 gallon water tank, paint, painting supplies, and a face basin. There was a formal handover of the gifts to the School’s Principal Mrs. Barbara Bhansi. Staff members engaged in a work day and painted the classrooms, erected the water tank with assistance from members of the UWI Maintenance Department and provided early learning stimulation to the students through organized games and reading.
- GALLERY - MSBM Outreach Day 2016 (Apr. 21, 2016)
2015
MSBM and Mona Social Services Donate Chairs to August Town Primary
On Friday April 17, 2015 MSBM supported by Mona Social Services donated 20 combination desk/chairs to the August Town Primary School.
As part of its community outreach efforts MSBM supported by Mona Social Services donated 20 combination desk/chairs to the August Town Primary School On Friday April 17 .Morlton Wilson , principal of the 300 student school was happy to receive the gift saying " We are grateful and excited that MSBM thought of us.”
Outreach within August Town, which borders on the property of the Mona Campus, is a major part of the UWI's community service thrust. Mona Social Services continues to work closely with members of the August Town community in order to identify and help to fill needs of residents. The August Town Primary School had identified a need for age appropriate furniture for its students, and MSBM was able to supply them with excess chairs from the MSBM North campus.
“These chairs will be especially good for our GSAT students, as many of them have grown bigger than the seats we have here". Wilson also noted that the storage space under the seats would be useful as the students have to keep track of numerous books and other supplies.
Wilson stated that the gift would have a lasting impact on the students at an emotional level " I think this will really boost the students' self-esteem, to know that they have new chairs that fit their needs. They will feel special."
2013
MSBM Continues Support of "One Laptop Per Child" Initiative
The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) launched its third "One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) project on May 16, 2013. Since its inception in 2011, the project has provided over 100 laptops to select schools. This year 20 XO laptops were distributed to the Mission House Basic School in Gordon Town, to be complemented by on-going teacher, parent and student training.
The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) launched its third "One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) project on May 16, 2013. Since its inception in 2011, the project has provided over 100 laptops to select schools. This year 20 XO laptops were distributed to the Mission House Basic School in Gordon Town, to be complemented by on-going teacher, parent and student training.
This initiative is sponsored by the Western Union Foundation, and implemented by MSBM and People's Action for Community Transformation (PACT), with Internet support provided by LIME. The MSBM team was represented by Dr Maurice McNaughton - Director, Centre of Excellence for IT Enabled Innovation, Craig Perue- enior Consultant at Centre of Excellence, and Maheshwar Boodraj- Manager, Information Systems supported by interns Dean Bartley and Jodi-Ann Whitehorne and contractor William Reid.
One Laptop per child is a non-profit association supported by the Miami-based One Laptop per Child Association (OLPCA) in the United States and the Cambridge -based OLPC Foundation (OLPCF) in Europe to oversee the creation of affordable educational devices for use in the developing world. Internationally the project has been funded by member organizations such as eBay, Google, and the World Bank.
The OLPC Programme was launched in Jamaica on January 18, 2011, with 75 laptops given to Providence Methodist Basic School for its 4 and 5 year old students, and 40 to the students of the two Grade Four classes at August Town Primary School. Since then the principals of both schools have reported yearly increases in student scores on the final exams of about 50%. The programme is supported by a large active community of worldwide volunteers designing, developing, testing and improving software to help children learn language arts, mathematics, science and many other areas of the Jamaican early childhood and primary school curricula.
The XO laptops used by OLPC are designed so that children find them easy and fun to use with no need for complex manuals. The machines are ideal for use by children as they are designed with rugged cases, dust and waterproof keyboards, and are easy to repair. Almost all the software and content developed in this programme are open educational resources that will impose no licensing or copyright costs on Jamaican parents or taxpayers.