Wings Kidz flies, thanks to donation from Canadian travel agents, JTB

A DONATION of CAD$4,400 along with school supplies from the Travel Agent Community of Canada and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) have put wind beneath the wings of Wings Kidz, a Montego Bay-based charity that supports atrisk children.

Wings Kidz was founded in January 2023 by educator Lecia Allen and serves around 40 students from grades one to six. Wings Kidz offers after-school programmes that are focused on literacy, numeracy, and holistic development, as the organisation aims to provide a safe environment for children from inner-city communities to learn, grow, and discover their potential, says a release from the JTB.

The donation is aimed at enabling Wings Kidz continue its after-school care, educational support, and developmental programmes, and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, thus creating a brighter future for Jamaica’s youths.

Angella Bennett, JTB’s regional director for Canada, said JTB was happy to support Wings Kidz from inception as it is important to support initiatives such as this as it means an investment in Jamaica’s future.

“We believe that nurturing our youths and providing them with educational opportunities is crucial for our nation’s sustainable development and tourism sector,” Bennett said.

Travel Agent Community of Canada member, Bonnie Fowler, underlined the importance of the donation, saying travel agents should leave a country better than how they found it.

“We profit from Jamaica, and if everybody gives back a little bit, imagine what Jamaica will look like in a few years,” she suggested.

Allen was delighted by the continued support.

“We are overjoyed by this generous contribution. It will positively impact our ability to support these children, especially as we prepare them for the upcoming school year,” Allen said, in accepting the donation.

She said the gift will help continue “the mission of developing these young minds holistically, improving their literacy and numeracy skills, and providing them with a safe, nurturing environment after school”.

And in applauding the support given by the Travel Agent Community of Canada, the JTB noted that the group was in Jamaica as part of a larger philanthropic effort with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation. This involves a building project at Dumfries Primary and Infant School in St James.

The JTB said the group’s donation demonstrated their commitment to support education and youth development in Jamaica.