Sligoville is the first established free village in Jamaica, as well as the cultural cornerstone of the Rastafarian “One Love” movement - a rich source of historical significance that can be harnessed to foster local enterprise.  Like many other communities across Jamaica, Sligoville's unique attributes can serve as an enabler for greater levels of empowerment and self-sufficiency for the community.

Background:  Every Jamaican by now should be aware of the incredible transformational power of the Internet.  Over a single generation, we have seen digital media redefining nearly every aspect of modern culture, transforming the way we work, learn and connect; in ways that we are only beginning to understand. Unlike any other medium in history, we have witnessed giants like Facebook,Twitter, and YouTube become the most valuable real estate on the Internet, commanding billions in advertising revenues - so can the "rock".

Application Area: Sligoville, St. Catherine, Jamaica
Status: Under Development
Project Name: The Sligoville Initiative
URL(s) for the project: http://jamlink.com

Project Facilitator: Vonergy, Inc.
Telephone number: 305-218-2878
E-mail: jamlink@gmail.com l Mailing address: Post Office Box 140866, Coral Gables FL 33114

Local Project Coordinator: Milton Ayre
Telephone number: 876-887-0832
E-mail: magrim.1@hotmail.com l Mailing address: Sligoville, St. Catherine, Jamaica

Local Hub: Sligoville All Age (Principal Beverly James-Drummond)
Telephone number: 876-852-3155
E-mail: tudwil@hotmail.com l Mailing address: Sligoville, St. Catherine, Jamaica

Overview

The Sligoville Initiative is aimed at transforming Jamaica's first free village.  Using the Internet and appropriate multimedia applications, our approach is geared towards promoting community development and cultural entrepreneurship.  It is a new business model and a collaborative partnership among Jamaicans across the globe, including Diaspora Associations striving for greater financial participation throughout Jamaica. 

Jamaicans across the globe seem carry with them at all times, the same distinctive trademark and spirited badge of, "Wi Likkle but wi Tallawah.  This unique source of energy has not only emboldened us to leave our mark wherever we go, it has also been the source for much celebration.  However, in the present online universe of social media and blogosphere, there isn’t single a media effort to mobilize the creative energy of our people; even as we are witnessing the increasing demand for "Brand Jamaica".

The Sligoville Initiative is a "cultural component" primarily targeting the 3 million Jamaicans in the Diaspora - not only as marketing agents for things Jamaican-centric, but also as cultural ambassadors for emerging products/services.

The project has following short term and long term objectives:

• To establish greater levels of self-sufficiency and empowerment in Sligoville
• To foster enhanced partnership and collaboration among Jamaicans around the globe
• To focus the creative energy of our students, enabling them to produce local content
• To establish Sligoville as a model for other rural communities across Jamaica
• To produce appropriate cultural and educational content for publication on Jamlink.com

Nuts & Bolts

The project equips the Sligoville All Age School and the Children of Sligoville with a multimedia lab including capabilities for producing and broadcasting live audio and video content - with advanced Internet connectivity and functionality for streaming live on Jamlink.com.  Facilitating training and educational workshops, and serving as production studio for community media and outreach; using series of video essays to broaden awareness and to communicate the historical significance of Sligoville.

Funding

The projected cost of the Sligoville Initiative is US $30,000.  To raise this necessary capital we are using the Jamaica Matters Fund (JMF) to garner tax-deductible support from individuals and organizations.  The Jamaica Matters Fund was established primarily as a funding program to increase our capacity throughout Jamaica - and will exist in perpetuity as an association with  Vonergy Inc., a non-profit and registered 501(c) (3) Charitable Organization.  Federal Tax Identification:  57-1206488

Please Click here to make a contribution using PayPal.  All contributions are tax-deductible and will be posted on our website.  All transactions are in U.S. dollars and will be processed through Jamlink.com’s PayPal account.

Advertising Sponsorships

Twenty-five percent of the advertising revenues generated on Jamlink.com will be allocated to the Sligoville Initiative.   We offer advertising sponsorships on the "virtual yard" - a unique broadcast and advertorial platform with prolonged value for participating companies, organizations and individuals to support community enhancement projects throughout Jamaica.

The "virtual yard" is a grid-map of Jamaica.  Each grid measures 15 x15 pixels and is available for the sponsorship price of $300 per year.  There are 365 spaces on the "virtual yard", each serving as a digital representation for our resourcefulness, collective expertise and experience; and is a reliable reference point for Jamaican networking, partnership and collaboration.

Benefits of advertising sponsorship on the virtual yard:

• increased site traffic
• a greater sphere of influence within the online Jamaican community
• an opportunity to generate sales from valuable click-through
• a real win-win opportunity for business owners to offer support and extend reach to new prospects

How does your support benefit Jamaica?

We anticipate that an asset-based approach to community building coupled with socio-culturally constructive community technology, will cause an increase in community social capital (Mattesich & Monsey, 1997; Putnam, 1995) and will facilitate the activation of community cultural capital (Bourdieu & Passeron, 1977; Lamont & Lareau, 1988; Zweigenhaft, 1993), as a result of residents' involvement as active agents of change and active producers of community content.

Please contact us to find out how you may become involved with the project.   You may also call us at 305-218-2878 or by emailing us at: jamlink@gmail.com

CULLED FROM JAMLINK