JACOM

We know most of you are probably wondering what exactly we do in Accompong specifically. We're doing lots of different things, but we'll discuss one organization that we have been working with: JACOM or Jamaica Accompong Connection of Minnesota. JACOM is a Christian organization out of Minnesota that was established in 2004. Prior to this, a man named Harald Petersen felt led to build a vocational school in Accompong in the early 1990s. Many others from Minnesota have come alongside him in the process to help with Harald's mission in Accompong, and as a result, JACOM was formed. Since then, JACOM has undertaken a number of different projects in Accompong, and over the years many people have come to visit from Minnesota to help support these projects.

The school was completed and is now called the Petersen Center. It has 3 floors, the upper floor has an apartment, four dorm rooms, and a deck. The main floor has 2 large class rooms, a lunch room, 2 bathrooms, and an office. The lower level has 3 class rooms and a shower room.

As of this past Wednesday, Matt and I helped JACOM to open up an “internet cafe” at the Petesen Center. Come September, JACOM has hopes of opening the Petersen Center as a Lifelong Learning Center (an adult education program) and a HEART (vocational education organization) Training Center. Their long-term plans include having an Excel High School available for students so that teens do not have to travel long distances by taxi in order to attend high school.

Aside from the Center, JACOM has also established a farmer's co-op which is involved in growing organic coffee, a chicken hatchery, and also are in the process of building 3 greenhouses.

Matt and I have found that some of the ideas we had are already underway by JACOM, and we are doing what we can to help JACOM with their plans while also working on our other projects. We feel extremely lucky to have JACOM in Accompong, and it seems to be a nice partnership. As was said in our last blog, a huge problem for many PCVs is a lack of resources, and for JACOM, they struggle by not having someone in Accompong consistently to see some of the projects through. Although we won't be working solely with JACOM, we are excited about the possibilities of working with them.