Corporate profile

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs was established in April 1940 through a merger between the juvenile arm of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Jamaica Welfare Limited, now known as the Social Development Commission (SDC). The organisation was formed as the medium for imparting specialised training to youth.

 

Over time, the organisation transitioned through various stages, and is now a Statutory Body funded through Central Government under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, (MICAF).

 

The effective implementation of programmes and projects required to achieve the organisation’s mission is facilitated through partnerships with public and private sector agencies as well as international organisations. This mix provides financial support through grants, donations, bursaries and scholarships as well as technical support. The organisation is an amalgamation of parish organisations operating under The Jamaica 4-H Clubs Act, (1966) and The Jamaica 4-H Clubs Regulations, (1972).

 

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs Regulations, 1972 established the Area Advisory Councils (Parish Advisory Councils) and the Island Advisory Council (IAC), and sets out their functions, memberships, officers, and general operating guidelines.

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs Act, (1966) established the Board of Management, functions of the Board, as well as guidelines related to funds and resources of the Board, borrowing powers, appointment of officers and general operating procedures.

 

Volunteerism plays a critical role in the realisation of the mission of the organisation, as it prepares youth to develop sustainable livelihoods and become positive contributors to nation building. The organisation operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, targets its programmes mainly to Early Childhood institutions, Primary and Junior High, Secondary, Technical High Schools, community and church populations. These programmes are designed to develop self-sufficiency and leadership skills, as the organisation’s core function is to provide youth with developmental and empowerment training in agriculture-related areas to develop sustainable livelihoods and become positive contributors to nation building.

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs continues to address new and dynamic issues of urban living, adaptive technologies and lifestyle requirements. The development of new programmes is geared towards rectifying some of the challenges outlined in the national priorities for youth development as well as strategic imperatives such as: entrepreneurship, health, continued education, youth relations, care and protection, living environment, participation and empowerment. The Jamaica 4-H Clubs is the leading  youth organisation in Jamaica and as it strives to continue mobilising youth to be nation builders, it seeks to broaden its organisational appeal by fostering and establishing collaboration with the internal 4-H Movement as well as other international partners.

Beneficiaries may consider enterprises from among the following:

  • Centre development in order to improve economic viability and productivity in order to increase training opportunities for the Clubites.

 

  • Equipping public educational institutions with technologically driven school gardens in order to encourage practical agricultural training in all schools and increase the number of youth participating in agriculture.

 

  • Fostering the development of agri-related value-added items by developing and placing new products on the market in order to increase income.

 

  • Livestock Development Programme for the expansion of at least six livestock enterprises.

 

  • Increasing the application of appropriate and adaptable agricultural technologies and programmes

 

  • Implementing youth empowerment programmes to provide youth with entrepreneurial support with inputs and training; as well as facilitating increased production and income generation.

 

  • Promoting and fostering partnerships for rural development in order to provide opportunities for rural women to start agricultural and agri-related business production of value added products.