Community News
Free Town Foundation makes a big difference in the lives of youth in rural Jamaica
BY PAUL JUNOR
Free Town (located in Clarendon, Jamaica) has a long cultural history and tradition. Over the years, the population in Free Town has grown significantly to where the community lacks basic social services. Thanks to the non-profit, charitable organization Free Town Foundation, which started over seventeen years ago, the lives of youth in the community have been greatly enriched. From a small church-based event it has expanded to include back-to-school supplies and scholarships for the local kids.
The website (freetownfoundation.org) outlines the origin of this charitable organization and the work that it does in the community. It began as an extension of the Miracle Tabernacle Free Town Church of God of Prophecy as a means of making a visible impact in the lives of those in the community. Cecelia Campbell Livingston, who as a member of the congregation became aware of the church’s outreach and pledged to continue the work beyond just a mini treat with only sandwiches and toys for the kids. She took it upon herself to publicize the next event and as donations came in, many more kids were able to receive toys and enjoyed cooked meals.
Cecelia is a trained journalist and currently worked as the Clarendon correspondent for the Gleaner. She previously worked for The Jamaica Observer. She is active in her community and has served on several committees in the parish of Clarendon. Cecelia witnessed first-hand the growth and development of the annual events and was aware of the financial costs that members were carrying as they carried out the event. In addition, although the donations were free, there were costs involved in clearing and transporting the donated items. This prompted her to collaborate with Pastor Aiken on the possibility of obtaining charitable status for the organization, which helps to defray their clearing cost.
Subsequently, a management consultant visited Jamaica from the US and saw firsthand the work that was being done by the outreach organization, and the decision was made to register it. This culminated with the granting of charitable status and a formal name change from the “Free Town Church of God of Prophecy Outreach Foundation,” to the “Free Town Foundation.” There was the adoption of bylaws, policies and a board of directors was installed that would provide: leadership, governance, guidance, and direction to the foundation as it seeks to fulfill its mandate and expand its role.
The mission of the Free Town Foundation is to support and inspire children, strengthen families, and impact the Free Town and neighboring communities by providing food, clothing, educational assistance, and other community assistance.
Its vision is to become a dependable and sustainable nonprofit which is nationally recognized as a vital part of the surrounding communities for its history of supporting and inspiring children, strengthening families and impacting communities.
The foundation’s core values are:
- Faith and works
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Trusted partnerships
- Healthy communities
Cecelia serves as Director of the foundation and other board members include:
- Chair: Dr. Sylvanus Thompson
- Vice Chair: Lorraine Anderson
- Treasurer: Andrea Shakespeare
- Secretary: Carol Officer
I interviewed the new chair. Dr. Thompson (aka Dr. T) on Thursday, June 15th, regarding his involvement with the Free Town Foundation. Dr. T is well known in the Jamaican-Canadian community in Toronto and served on its board for over seven years. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Health Service Research Foundation and retired in 2021 as Associate Director of the Toronto Public Health. He is the recipient of many awards over the years and in 2021 he received the Governor-General Jamaica Diaspora Award of Excellence and the Jamaican Diaspora and Friends Champion Award in Health and Mental Health. He is a committed volunteer in many local organizations.
Dr. T told me that he first became aware of the Free Town Foundation when he participated in a health fair in Jamaica two years ago. He grew up in Thompson Town in Clarendon and attended the well-known school Clarendon College. He has been active in mobilizing resources and technical assistance in Jamaica’s fight against various diseases and has been able to ensure that the Ministry of Health receives infrared thermometers. His extensive work in many areas of public health in Jamaica provides him with a deep understanding of the complexity and challenges that Jamaica faces.
Dr. T is excited to be part of the Free Town Foundation’s back-to-school event scheduled for Friday, August 18th, 2023. He told me that he wants to promote awareness of the event through his extensive community contact and network. The goal of the event is to fill at least 300 backpacks with supplies and award ten scholarships.
Dr. T is committed to the growth of the foundation as it is meeting the practical and social needs of the youth in the community which will lead to a greater quality of life.
Anyone interested in learning about Free Town Foundations can check the website: