The Digicel Foundation, started in Jamaica in 2004, has since its inception worked to give back in countless ways to help Jamaicans across the island.

Fast forward 18 years later whereDigicel, through the Foundation, continues to be one of the largest corporate donors in Jamaica with focus on the special needs community in the areas of education, training, employment and access to resources.

“Over the years, we have streamlined the focus of the Foundation to target three key portfolios – Special Needs, Community Development and Education – all while continually involving employees through regular staff volunteer programmes. This has allowed us to move the needle in these areas, and I would even go as far as to say influence and change behaviours towards marginalised populations, like those with special needs,” said Denis O’Brien, founder of the Digicel Foundation.

According to the Digicel Jamaica Foundation annual report, since 2004 the Foundation has impacted 741,369 lives through special needs, community development and education interventions.

Fueled by the belief that, as the Foundation grows, so too must the communities, the Digicel Foundation continues to be relentless in providing support for Jamaicans in need.

With the return of face-to-face school after two years of distance learning, the Foundation ensured that students with special needs were ready by providing them with back-to-school kits.

The Foundation’s 10 Special Needs Centres were among the schools to receive backpacks, notebooks, pencils and crayons.

The students who benefitted have varying intellectual and physical disabilities and were looking forward to returning to school to access the unique learning techniques and therapy provided by these institutions.

“After a long, hard COVID disruption, our preparations to welcome our students on their return to in-person learning received a huge boost from the Digicel Foundation. The gift of a school bag filled with school supplies was a much-needed affirmation for both students and their teachers. We continue to be grateful to the Digicel Foundation for their continued support of our very special students,” said Hilary Sherlock, principal o the STEP Centre for Children with Multiple Disabilities.

Since 2012, the Foundation has hosted the annual 5K run/walk to raise funds for special needs projects like school renovations, scholarship programmes and therapy services.

Each year, the 5K also serves as an awareness-building campaign to educate Jamaicans on, and advocate for those with special needs.

“In 2021, which would have been our 10th year of the Digicel 5K, we opted out of a physical event in light of the ongoing pandemic. But we still wanted to represent special needs in a big way, so we launched our most meaningful special needs campaigns under the theme, ‘Together, we can be the change’,” the Digicel Foundation said.

“Big up Digicel, and especially Denis O’Brien, because when Digicel came into Jamaica in the early 2000s, they stated upfront that they were going to include persons with disabilities. Digicel has ensured that persons with disabilities are included in every facet of the organisation,” said Senator Floyd Morris, member of the United Nations Committee on Disabilities.

The foundation also stated in its report that: “The Disability Act provides the legislation to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination. At Digicel, we believe in an inclusive workplace for those with disabilities and we’ve been sharing that story with other corporate partners to encourage them to do the same. Our special needs awareness campaign is one way that we’ve been able to reach more people as we strive towards a more inclusive Jamaica for all.”

As part of their special needs awareness campaign, they issued a call for grants for one project that landed them on the renovation of the basketball training court for the Jamaica Paralympics Association.

The organisation, whose motto is, ‘Through diversity, to the Stars’, is a top-performing international Paralympics team and they received a topnotch training court courtesy of the Digicel Foundation.

The Foundation was able to resurface the basketball court, installed new safety fencing, constructed a permanent viewing stand and had the surrounding facility painted by volunteers for a total investment of US$50,000.

“This renovation is assisting us tremendously in preparing for future competition, and with training our younger athletes. Digicel Foundation is getting us back on track to start our basketball programme – helping to create a world where no one gets left behind,” said Alphanso Cunningham, Digicel Brand Ambassador and Jamaican Paralympian.

“Our renovations benefitted the athletes, including Digicel Jamaica brand ambassador and Jamaican Paralympian Alphanso Cunningham. They officially began training for international competition in March 2022, for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic. We’re continuing to cheer on the team as they represent Jamaica and bring home more medals,” the Digicel Foundation said.

Through the year, the Foundation has also been active in the Ramp Projects.

Through the projects, several ramps were erected in traditional schools and public buildings to create a more inclusive environment for persons with disabilities in Jamaica.