Popular dancehall entertainer Mavado recently decided to help do something about the low level of access to computers and internet here in Jamaica by launching a new charity called CONNECT JAMAICA.

With the advent of the internet the world has become smaller and a lot more accessible for anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection. Access to information, emails, knowledge, jobs, friends and family abroad, even making visa appointments, is now all much easier through the internet, which has become an integral part of many peoples daily routines around the globe. The majority of Jamaicans, often pinned with the disenfranchising label of living in a third world country, do not have access to a computer, much less the internet.
 
We are thinking long term and my aim is to try and get a computer and internet connection into every school in Jamaica, announces Mavado. There are hundreds of schools in Jamaica that are in dire need of a computer and access to the internet. My manager and I had bought some computers recently to give away to some schools, and the idea just snowballed from there.

To kick off the charity, Mavado will be giving away computers and printers to Charlie Smith High School (Arnett Gardens,) Constant Spring High, Shortwood Practising and Swallowfield All Age next week. The school principals contacted so far have all been extremely grateful for the donations, all saying they are in desperate need of computers.

CONNECT JAMAICA will be taking advantage of communications company FLOWs offer of a free internet connection to all public high schools, with a view to getting all basic and all age schools on board over the coming years.

CONNECT JAMAICA aims to donate computers every month to schools around the island, raising funds via various events and donations. Mavados annual Birthday Bash dubbed the Real Mckoy will take place this year on Saturday December 1st at the Temple Hall Estate in St Andrew and will be donating a significant portion of the proceeds towards purchasing computers for CONNECT JAMAICA.