The Jamaica Trade Board recently partnered with the Seprod Foundation for the second staging of its Read Across Jamaica Day Initiative. 

This event occurred at St George’s Girls’ and St Aloysius Primary Schools in Kingston on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

The initiative aims to foster a generation that comprehends the significance of trade and its pivotal role in economic development.

Demonstrating its commitment to literacy – a core element of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy – the Jamaica Trade Board collaborated with the Seprod Foundation to uniquely integrate the joy of reading with knowledge about export.

The Jamaica Trade Board and Seprod Foundation engaged Grades 4 and 5 students from both schools. They participated in a customised Primary Exit Profile (PEP) practice paper designed to instil an export-oriented mindset in these young learners.

Trade Board director of public education and public relations Roshane Reid says “Read Across Jamaica Day transcends mere trendiness – it aligns seamlessly with the company’s vision and mission. These are driven by the parent ministry’s focus on exponentially increasing exports.”

The Jamaica Trade Board’s presence was underscored by a dedicated team, including Roshane Reid, Director of Public Education and Public Relations; Rushelle Whyte, Public Relations Officer; and Ockeem Thomas, Public Procurement Officer.

Jamaica Trade Board Trade administrator and CEO Dr Hugh Blake explained that “the initiative aimed to gauge students’ perception of export. This assessment precedes the highly anticipated launch of The Trade Board Limited’s EXPORTJamaica National Essay Competition in the upcoming 2024/25 academic year.”

Blake says “Behaviour change is a critical element of the overall export strategy. Jamaica must shift paradigms – from import to export – to drive and sustain economic growth effectively.”

Seprod foundation communications assistant Vanessa Nelson says quality education is the cornerstone of a thriving society.

“Read Across Jamaica Day provides an invaluable opportunity for us to connect with students and ignite their passion for reading. It was a pleasure to share with the students and see how incredibly excited they were to hear the stories we shared with them. Through our involvement in Read Across Jamaica Day we reaffirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the communities that we serve,” Nelson said. 

Reid added that she “experienced immeasurable joy at witnessing the smiles on the children’s faces during the interactions. There is something magical about sharing the joy of reading and facilitating knowledge transfer, which affirms the profound impact of our engagement and strategic partnership with the Seprod Foundation. This partnership was certainly a match made in heaven which fuels our commitment to public education initiatives that nurture holistic development.”