When the going gets tough

We were reminded of the importance of our international partners as we read the address by the managing director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Scarlette Gillings, at their annual general meeting last Wednesday. We gained respect for JSIF in 2004 when the Digicel Foundation partnered with them to build a school in Lakes Pen within a six-week period. The JSIF team members who attended our meetings were punctual and helpful, delivering every step of the way.Last Wednesday at the organisation's 18th annual general meeting, Gillings reported that "during fiscal 2013/14, JSIF also oversaw the completion of projects which, over an eight-year span, collectively disbursed more than $5.2 billion". We appreciate that she could quantify the results as she noted that the projects "directly benefited over 129,900 underserved persons in selected communities across the island".She said they included the second phase of the Poverty Reduction Programme-PRP II, funded by the European Union with total grant of euro 8.5m and the Inner-City Basic Services Programme II funded by the World Bank between 2006 and 2013 with a loan of US$29.3m. These are hefty sums. Through careful stewardship of such valuable assets, we can earn the trust that will keep our partnerships strong.