Give Love Back Worldwide champions community impact with back-to-school treat
Published:Saturday | January 6, 2024 | 12:05 PMRollesha Laing/Assistant Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor
On a quest to spread smiles, kindness and love in communities, Give Love Back Worldwide made its mark with an inaugural back-to-school charity event held in December of last year, making its first stop in the community of Grants Pen.
Approximately 70 children from the community received a variety of school supplies for the upcoming term, as well as access to new toys. In addition, basketball hoops, balls, football gear and goal posts were among the items donated for everyone to enjoy. To further solidify the project’s mark, a mural featuring Jamaican colours and the project’s logo, was put on display.
Youths were in for a full day of excitement as the event featured rides, surprises, delicious treats, and friendly competitions like a spelling bee contest. Additionally, there were pep talks and games with popular dancehall artistes and social media personalities such as Govana and Fatskull.
Head of the initiative, renowned director and videographer, Oshane ‘Shane Creative’ Junior, utilised his drive for giving back and his love for the community he grew up in, as inspiration for the project.
“Giving back to the community is crucial to me because Grants Pen has played a significant role in shaping my journey,” he began, adding that “the inspiration behind Give Love Back Worldwide comes from my desire to bring joy to my community, especially during the holiday season. I wanted to create memorable and joyous experiences for the children in Grants Pen.”
Recounting the success of the back-to-school treat, Junior told GoodHeart that the community expressed gratitude for the movement. “The reception in the community has been heartwarming with positive feedback and appreciation for bringing happiness to the children of Grants Pen.”
Junior acknowledged that the success of the inaugural event would not have been possible without the support of his team, volunteers, and sponsors. All of them shared a belief in the overall vision and are eagerly anticipating the continued impact that the movement is expected to create.
With the goal of hosting an annual event, Junior aspires to eventually transition Give Love Back Worldwide to a registered charity organisation, extending its reach to more communities. For him, the current efforts are just the beginning of the work that lies ahead.
“My team and I have big plans for the next project. We’re looking to give back to even more communities with a lot more sponsors on board. We will continue our mission to make a positive impact in Grants Pen and beyond.” he added.
To support the movement and future projects, you may reach out to info.giveloveback@gmail.com or find them on Instagram using the handle @givelovebackworldwide.