Jamaica Bound

On March 20, 2010, my daughter and about 20 other students from Indian Rocks Christian School (IRCS) will be Jamaica Bound. IRCS is involved with the American-Caribbean Experience, better known as A.C.E., which is a non-profit Christian organization that takes American youth to developing countries where they can use their talents, leadership skills and resources in a positive way helping those less fortunate. The team from IRCS will have a chance to encourage the Jamaican youth towards better futures through educational workshops, building schools and mentoring younger children.


It is a vacation with a purpose where the American students get to interact with the Jamaican youth in sports, sharing meals, playing games and getting to know them on a one-on-one basis. Many of the students went on this trip last school year are returning again. They had such eye-opening, heart-felt experiences that they felt compelled to return again. IRCS is involved with many organizations allowing the high school students to go every year to various places both in the United States as well as other countries bringing hope, help, leadership and a sense of well-being to poverty stricken communities.

The students from IRCS work very hard to earn the money necessary for the trip relying on donations from friends and family, as well as holding garage sales, car washes, working at the school’s thrift store and other various fund raisers. In addition to the financial fundraising, the students are required to attend team trainings, six of eight bible studies and be involved in at least three of the four community service projects scheduled each year in order to be eligible to go on the trip. This is a wonderful opportunity for our youth to learn that giving from the heart is one of the best gifts you can give.

The American-Caribbean Experience website also features a video that the IRCS kids made last year during their trip to Jamaica. The Board of Directors from A.C.E. liked the video so much they put it on their website as an advertisement for others to view and see what kids can actually do and how their presence helped the people of Jamaica. The website is www.acexperience.org , click on “Gallery” tab, then scroll down to ACE Video tab and there you can view the video.

The American youth of today have the ability to help the youth of poverty stricken countries become positive, strong, intelligent leaders that can bring their communities into a better economic environment allowing the future of their homeland to not just survive but thrive.

Posted by: Deb McWilliams

Deb celebrated her third anniversary with Hennessy this past October. As an Administrative Assistant, she supports multiple Project Managers and juggles her wide variety of duties with her every present sunny disposition. Deb is currently working as a Field Admin at our Westminster Shores Palm View project in South St. Petersburg.