Fighting to End
Poverty in Jamaica
Jamaica’s geographic beauty stretches from its pine-tree covered mountains, through dense tropical rainforests, to fertile plains and pristine beaches, but the real beauty is in its people. Unfortunately, high rates of poverty, lack of resources, and limited employment opportunities have contributed to the growth of violent crime, widespread food insecurity, and poor housing conditions.
Jamaica Poverty Facts
- Overall 17.1 percent of the population lives below the poverty line
- More than 7 percent of children under age 5 suffer from stunting due to malnutrition
- The life expectancy is 75.75
- Unemployment is 7.72 percent
- The GDP per capita is $5,369.5
Help for Jamaica
In 1982, Jamaica became the first country to receive assistance from Food For The Poor. FFTP-Jamaica was established one year later and is today the island’s largest charitable organization. FFTP partners with more than 1,300 churches and institutions to distribute food, medicine, educational supplies, and other items to impoverished families.
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Housing
Since its inception, FFTP has built 36,645 homes island wide, including 89 in 2023.
Water
Since early 2021, FFTP has established 17 water harvesting projects for schools across the island.
Food
In 2024, FFTP shipped more than 34.2 million lifesaving meals to Jamaica.
Education
FFTP has built, repaired, or expanded 322 schools throughout Jamaica.
Medicine
FFTP has constructed medical clinics across the island to improve existing facilities and provide quality care.
Emergency aid
In 2023, FFTP sent one prepositioned disaster relief kit to Jamaica with enough supplies to support 250 families in the event of a disaster.
Children
FFTP helps care for more than 343 children in 23 Angels Of Hope children’s homes. In addition, more than 60 children from inner-city communities participate in the FFTP Band Camp Program.
Sustainability
Animal Husbandry, such as programs such pig, chicken, and goat-rearing projects, as well as fishing projects, tree planting initiatives, greenhouses, and climate-smart crop cultivation, provide food and income for families in Jamaica. In addition, FFTP equipped more than 360 beekeepers throughout the island with supplies and training to generate income by harvesting quality honey and other apiary byproducts.
Community Support
Inner-city communities, schools, children’s homes, and farmers receive help with producing crops and livestock for food and profit. Constructed a multipurpose facility for community development and worship.
Micro-Finance
FFTP equipped 360 beekeepers island wide with supplies and training to generate income by harvesting quality honey.
Prison Ministry
Since 1998, FFTP has helped free 749 nonviolent prisoners through its Prison Ministry.
God’s Love
People’s faith in the light of Christ delivers them from the darkness shadowing their lives.
United in
God’s Work
Our Impact in Jamaica
2022
Implemented three income-generating projects, including one beekeeping enterprise and two harvesting enterprises.
2022
Provided two schools with rainwater harvesting and storage systems
2022
Established a tree-planting initiative to increase the number of fruit trees planted around the island.
2022
Provided 68 laptop computers to children living in Angel of Hope Children’s Homes across the island.
2022
Embarked on a Climate Smart Agricultural program targeting primarily subsistence farmers. By providing rainwater harvesting, storage, and drip irrigation system along with training and resources to develop a ½ acre plot of land, the initiative aims to improve farming techniques and increase income for the most vulnerable farmer.
2022
Implemented the Thatch Walk Hot Pepper Project, which holds the promise of transforming other farming communities.
2022
Shipped 27 containers of essential goods and nonperishable food to Jamaica, including clothing, medical and assorted canned food.
2022
Built, repaired or expanded eight schools.
2021
Built 285 homes
2021
Completed a project to provide chickens and fresh vegetables to the Jamaica National Children’s Home
2021
Embarked on a new income-generating agricultural program to help farmers improve the quality and quantity of their yields. The program provides all equipment and supplies to establish a ½-acre farm and includes a rainwater harvesting, storage and drip irrigation system to assist farmers in providing water in the drier periods.
2021
Provided equipment for 31 beekeepers, bringing the total to almost 360 beekeepers participating in an income-generating project that allows farmers to harvest quality honey.
2021
Helped 139 students attend school through an annual grant program, which provides funding for school fees and books for students from pre-kindergarten to college and provided scholarships to help two students attend medical school.
2021
Distributed $34,781,512 in aid
2021
Built, repaired, or expanded seven schools
2021
Shipped 485 tractor-trailer loads of aid to Jamaica.
2021
Responded with emergency aid after the island was hit back-to-back by hurricanes Grace and Ida.
2020
Responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by airfreighting hygiene and protective wear to the island nation, establishing various food and hygiene programs to address food insecurity and safety concerns. The charity has distributed packages to more than 15,000 families while maintaining the distribution of critical resources to a network of churches, missionaries and other institutions that provide food and other goods to tens of thousands island wide.
2020
Shipped 35 tractor-trailer loads of medicines, medical equipment and other medical supplies to clinics and hospitals across the island. Durable medical equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs, also are provided to needy recipients.
2020
Initiated a program that aids individuals in need of funding for medical procedures or equipment critical to save lives or improve quality of life.
2020
Established the Summerfield Child Care Agriculture Project, which includes crop production and an egg-laying hen coop.
2020
Established the Summerfield Child Care Agriculture Project, which includes crop production and an egg-laying hen coop.
2020
Established the Muirton Boy’s Home and West Haven Children’s Home Water Projects, which include water storage, a rainwater-catchment system and a water purification system that provides an additional 6,000 gallons of water storage capacity for each facility.
2020
A special distribution took place in December, with the entire FFTP Jamaica team fanning out across the island to deliver food packages to marginalized individuals in communities in celebration of Christmas.
2020
FFTP-Jamaica partnered with UNICEF to improve water, sanitization, and hygiene in 19 schools located in high-risk COVID-19 parishes.
2020
FFTP-Jamaica responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing food and hygiene packages to the neediest families on the island.
2019
Provided water-catchment storage tanks and filtration units to the Reddies Place of Safety, the Salvation Army’s The Nest Children’s Home in Kingston, Sunbeam Boys Home and Yadel Children’s Home in St. Catherine.
2019
Provided broiler and layer-hen coops to the Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home.
2017
Made history in Jamaica by building 100 schools in five years thanks to the generous support of its donors in the United States, Canada and Jamaica
2015
Restored Wortley Home, initially opened in 1918 for vulnerable girls in Kingston, after it was destroyed by fire. FFTP built a beautiful two-story facility with the capacity to accommodate 32 girls, up from the previous capacity of 24. The facilities have two 16-bed dormitories, a sick bay, homework and study room equipped with computers, and separate bedrooms and bathrooms for the house mother and staff.
2000
Established its first fishing village in Jamaica, providing local fishermen with boats, engines, fishing gear and storage facilities.
1998
Established the FFTP Prison Ministry Program, which assists in freeing and reintroducing nonviolent prisoners into the community. Since the program’s inception, 743 men and women have had their fines paid. More than 8,250 ex-inmates have also benefited from the “Fresh Start Program,” which that assists with profitable income-generating ventures, such as welding, carpentry, farming and tailoring.
1983
FFTP-Jamaica was established and is the largest charitable organization in Jamaica.
1982
FFTP was founded, and Jamaica became the first country to receive aid from the newly established charity