SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica and CHEW Foundation invest in education, opportunity, and long-term empowerment for children in care

Hope, opportunity, and the promise of a brighter future took centre stage as SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica and the CHEW Foundation deepened a strategic partnership focused on transforming the lives of children in Jamaica’s state care system.

Observed during Child’s Month 2026, the partnership came to life through a series of impactful initiatives held on May 16, blending celebration, education, emotional support, and long-term investment into a day designed entirely around the wellbeing and future potential of children in care.

At the heart of the initiative was a formal scholarship handover valued at JMD $500,000, supporting children enrolled in the SOS Family Like Care Programme in Stony Hill. The scholarship programme is specifically designed to assist children under 12 years old currently in state care and enrolled in primary education.

The initiative reflects a deliberate and structured investment in education as a pathway toward empowerment, stability, and long-term opportunity.  

“This partnership reflects the kind of sustained support that can genuinely change the trajectory of a child’s life,” said Sean Patrick, Fund Development and Communications Advisor at SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica. “What makes this collaboration particularly meaningful is that it goes beyond a single moment or donation. It is focused on creating systems of opportunity through education, emotional support, literacy, mentorship, and community engagement. These are the kinds of investments that help children build confidence in themselves and hope for their future.”

The scholarship initiative forms part of the CHEW Foundation’s wider vision of creating sustainable support systems for children in care as they transition into adulthood. Founded by Jamaican investor and philanthropist Donovan Lewis and Kathryn Lewis Green, the Foundation was established on the belief that children in state care should have access not only to immediate assistance, but also to mentorship, financial literacy, emotional wellbeing support, educational advancement, and pathways toward long-term wealth generation and independence.

The Foundation has also been active in broader child welfare and recovery initiatives across Jamaica. Following Hurricane Melissa, CHEW Foundation partnered with private entrepreneurs, charities, and community organisations to support rebuilding efforts connected to homes and communities serving vulnerable children, helping to mobilise infrastructure support, building supplies, and donations for affected facilities and families.

Adding joy and celebration to the Child’s Month observance, CHEW Foundation also sponsored a Children’s Fun Day at SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, transforming the space into an atmosphere filled with laughter, recreation, and meaningful human connection. The event created opportunities for children to engage with volunteers, participate in activities, and experience a strong sense of inclusion and care.

An additional highlight was a special book reading session led by Joan Hamilton, focused on themes of aspiration and possibility. The Foundation also donated books to support literacy development and provide ongoing educational resources for the children.

Seretse Bell, Chief Executive Officer of CHEW Foundation, described the initiative as part of a much larger mission focused on long-term transformation.

“We believe every child deserves more than survival; they deserve access to opportunity, stability, and the tools needed to build a meaningful future,” Bell shared. “For us, this partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica is about investing in children in a way that is intentional, strategic, and sustainable. Education, emotional support, mentorship, and financial empowerment are all critical pillars in helping children move confidently into adulthood.”

The partnership between SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica and CHEW Foundation is expected to continue expanding through additional scholarship support, child-focused programmes, literacy initiatives, and community engagement efforts aimed at strengthening long-term systems of care and empowerment for vulnerable children across Jamaica.

For the children at SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica, the day was more than a Child’s Month activity. It was a powerful reminder that they are seen, supported, and surrounded by people committed to helping them dream bigger and build brighter futures.