Get Involved
Volunteer for us, become a member… Whatever you want to do, take action today and be part of a foundation standing together to better the future for everyone.
JOIN OUR PROGRAMS
The Lesma Ellis Foundation provides mentorship, guidance, encouragement and confidence in future leaders. We have quite a number of programs in the areas of:
LEF Community development program is for the community to come together and take action on issues they feel that are important to them.
LEF believes that all people within the community should have access to education, medical health, and opportunity to ensure the community has a staple, throughout the Caribbean.
“The gap between male and female pay in Jamaica continues to shrink, but one should not expect gender parity in the island before the next 100 years", according to a new global report which ranks the island at 41 in the world. That’s little consolation for those currently experiencing wage disparity. The Global Gender Gap Report 2020 indicates that Jamaica scores poorly in the subcategory of ‘wage equality for similar work’ at 95 out of 153 nations”.
Taken from a report done by The Jamaica Gleaner (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20200101/jamaica-close-gender-gap-100-years) entitled “Jamaica To Close Gender Gap In 100 Years”, which speaks about gender inequality within workspaces among women.
LEF believes that everyone, whether male or female should have equal access to education, job opportunities and proper health care. We value each life and see each person equally despite their gender differences. Our dream is to see each gender being provided with equal opportunities throughout the world; partnering with other organizations to work towards this change.
Young ladies and women feeling empowered to compete in a male dominated society.
Being a female growing up in a male dominated world can be a strenuous and tiresome task, having to work twice as hard in the working world while still carrying out motherly and household tasks is not quite simple.
Education
Awards and Scholarships
Are you looking to progress in your career, but wondering how you will be able to fund your studies? We understand that studying at university can be a financial burden, which is why we offer support that could help you achieve your ambitions.
Am I eligible for a scholarship – Our wide range of scholarships are awarded based on need or merit (or a combination of the two). As the number of available awards is limited, we would recommend that you plan where possible to ensure you can meet the criteria need for either a scholarship or award.
BECOME A MENTOR
When you were young, did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that may seem easy or straightforward to you now may be a complete mystery to a young person.
1 in 3 young people will grow up without having a mentor– either through a formal mentoring program or informally through a family friend or community member –leaving them disconnected from a critical resource to help with these very things.
Many people immediately think of an older, more experienced person within the mentee’s company passing their knowledge down to a young, eager protégé, but it doesn’t always work like that.
Even if someone is younger or has the same level of experience, they can still share valuable insights. It doesn’t have to be one-on-one either; mentors can take several mentees under their wing at once.
What Makes A Good Mentor
Before becoming a mentor, here are a few things to understand about the role of mentoring. Most of us have had a teacher, supervisor, or coach who has been a mentor to us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats, acting as delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends.
Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:
- A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
- Respect for young people
- Active listening skills
- Empathy
What We’re Looking For
The ideal LEF Mentor is:-
- Resourceful, a can-do attitude, and you thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail
- Well-honed organizational skills is crucial
- Goal-oriented, team player with an all-hands on deck mentality, able and willing, to complete the task at hand
- Eagerness and willingness to learn, and to test and fail
- Forward Thinking – you don’t only rely on what worked in the past, you prefer to see around corners and plan for the future
- Passionate about learning the LEF mission and values
- Creative and Critical Thinker
Why Become A Mentor
As a mentor you will have the opportunity to:
- Share valuable knowledge based on your own experience
- Develop your coaching, communication and leadership skills
- Work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Improve your understanding of issues and barriers experienced by newcomers to Jamaica
- Motivate and support someone to fulfill their potential
- Help someone in your field put their skills and experience to work.
Advocacy : Get Involved
Community outreach
Funds help ensure community residents get the information they need in a timely manner through the giving of computers and tablets
Medical equipment
Funds aid the community in acquiring leading edge medical technology.
Caregiver education and Training
Funds enable local residents to visit doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Funds aid residents within the community for educational development and growth for higher education to better serve the community.
Access to care
Funds help remove barriers – financial and geographical, that keep residents from well deserve health care.
Become A LEF Volunteer
Live with the joy of giving! Share your precious time with us. Join our team of volunteers and experience new things, discover and develop your skills, share your talents and abilities.
Our foundation is always accepting volunteers. Volunteering at LEF is open to everyone interested in having a close and unique look behind the scenes. We are open to new ideas you may want to share.
At LEF, you will learn new skills while you take on the challenge of volunteerism. LEF Volunteers are persons who can and are willing to take on the challenges to help make this world a better place.
Our volunteers are paid in six letters … S-M-I-L-E-S. Consider this as part of your social responsibility to help your less privileged brothers and sisters.
We will be grateful if you share your precious time with us.
SPONSOR A SCHOOL
When you choose school sponsorship with LEF, your gift helps hundreds of children across schools get a better start in life. Donations give us the freedom to be creative, come up with innovative solutions and demonstrate their effectiveness with our school and community. This means we positively impact the whole community and achieve wide change with interventions that are proven to make a difference.
We work at national level too, advocating for changes to education policy that can reach and benefit every school child in the country. That’s the key to bring about sustainable, long-lasting and far-reaching change that builds a brighter future for all children.
As a sponsor you will receive updates on LEF’s work and the state of education in the community so you can see the changes you are helping to make possible.
BECOME A SPONSOR
We work at national level too, advocating for changes to education policy that can reach and benefit every school child in the country. That’s the key to bring about sustainable, long-lasting and far-reaching change that builds a brighter future for all children.
As a sponsor you will receive updates on LEF’s work and the state of education in the community so you can see the changes you are helping to make possible.
Community Rebuild
We all strive to make our country and our economy a better place. Whether it may be providing jobs to those who may need it, rebuilding our infrastructure or even by just giving a helping hand.
The Lesma Ellis Foundation focuses on rebuilding our economy through our youths, which signifies to us to rebuild our future. So we implore you to help us to rebuild our future, “for every child should learn and every child must learn“.
DONATE
Our mission is committed to the educational advancement, social development and the well-being of adolescents, senior citizens, young men and women throughout inner-city and rural Jamaica. We remain dedicated to eliminating educational barriers but we need your support.
Our goal consists of procuring grants and computer devices for students as education institutions shift towards virtual learning. In addition to our CompuTrek program, LEF assists students with school supplies and intends to assist our senior citizens with necessary food supplies through our “Food Drive”.
Donations to the Lesma Ellis Foundation will aid students and members of the communities and promote social responsibility by not only providing mentorship, guidance, encouragement and confidence in future leaders within our local communities but to also expand to a wider platform and reach youths internationally.
Make a donation
To donate, you can use any of these options:-
