National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee Hands Over Cheque to the Eira Schader Home For The Aged

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, February 23, 2016

The National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee (NLPBC) yesterday (February 23, 2016) handed over a cheque valued at over five hundred thousand dollars to the Eira Schader Home For The Aged in Trench Town, representing a combination of contributions collected at the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast held earlier this year along with a direct donation from the Victoria Mutual Group. Each year the NLPBC contributes the money collected at the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast, to a selected project or charity.

Speaking at the Cheque Hand Over Ceremony, Chairman of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, Rev. Dr. Stevenson Samuels, noted that the presentation to the Eira Schader Home, the importance of kindness within the society.

“We celebrate kindness today. Without kindness, the society cannot go on. Most of the real work done in our society is not for profit, but it is done for love.”

President and CEO of the Victoria Mutual Group, Richard Powell, reiterated his organisation’s commitment to support the work of the NLPBC and emphasized the significance of the contribution being made to the Home. Citing results from the 2015 World Health Organisation’s Report on Ageing and Health, which reported that the ageing population around the world is growing, yet the resources are inadequate to meet the demands of this community, he noted that, “in Jamaica, the stark reality is that we are in need of more facilities like the Eira Schader Home for the Aged that can provide adequate care for our seniors. Many of them are homeless and without families to provide the care they need. Research in Jamaica indicates that the elderly now comprises 11.3% of the population, and this figure is projected to rise to 25% by 2050.”

Powell also announced that in addition to making a monetary donation of $50,000 towards improving the facilities, the organisation will include the Home as one of its 2016 Labour Day Projects.

The Eira Schader Home for the Aged was established by Eira Schader from Switzerland 30 years ago and provides care for senior citizens in the Trench Town Community. A volunteer from the community, Lloyd Ferguson, has been managing the home since 1991 from his limited means and other donations he may receive. Currently, the Home is in urgent need of support. This includes physical repairs to the structure, provision of supplies and assistance in meeting the health needs of the residents as well as financial support for providing their day-to-day care. Currently, the Home has six residents but has the capacity for 26. At the Cheque Hand Over Ceremony, Rev. Linford Henry, Chairman of the Trench Town

Ministers Fraternal, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Home. “This donation will go a far way in helping us to provide care to the elderly in our community. The Ministers Fraternal has made a commitment to give full assistance and support to the Home. We thank the Prayer Breakfast Committee and Victoria Mutual for your contribution that will keep this work going.”