Jamaica is an island rich in culture and history. It is the third largest island and the fourth largest country in the Caribbean. The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Though a small nation, Jamaica has a strong global presence. The musical genres reggae and ska both originated in the island's vibrant, popular urban recording industry. Sport is an integral part of national life in Jamaica. While the most popular local sport is cricket, on the international stage Jamaicans have tended to do particularly well at Track and Field. Education is free from the early childhood to secondary levels. There are also opportunities for those who cannot afford further education in the vocational arena.
There are an estimated 53,000 orphans who live in Jamaica per UNICEF and approximately 5,125 children who lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. This number is expected to rise. Although Jamaica has made tremendous progress with providing children with healthcare, education, and social services, the situation is still tough. The quality of education has room for improvement. The access to resources is limited. Reading storybooks is generally not practiced, although the interest is there. Bookwallah would like to make storybooks available for the children to help to change their lives and situations. We would also like to bring about more awareness to the benefits of reading with the help of community leaders.
Contact:
TBD
Contact Information:
Kingston, Jamaica,
Tel: TBD
E-mail: jamaica@bookwallah.org
