VJ Hope Foundation aims to revitalise communities, bring hope to those in need

VJ Hope Foundation, a new non-profit organisation, has its sights set on revitalising and uplifting communities facing socio-economic challenges and high rates of depression and hardship, starting with Cockburn Gardens.

“This foundation is driven by God’s guidance and blessings, and is a legacy of one of the community’s doyen and pillar of strength, and my mother, Rev Violet Jaisingh – it was her final wish.

“We are driven by a mission to bring hope and create lasting positive change, the VJ Hope Foundation will focus on programmes that address mental health support, economic opportunities, and youth empowerment,” said Dr Ruby Jaisingh, founder of VJ Hope Foundation.

Jaisingh informed that the foundation was born from a vision of providing meaningful support and resources to communities that often feel left behind. The foundation’s initial programmes will focus on health services, community-building, educational resources, and career training to help empower individuals and create paths towards brighter futures.

“We believe that every community deserves hope, opportunity, and a chance to thrive,” said Jaisingh. “Our goal is to serve as a source of encouragement and practical support, breaking down barriers and ensuring that no community is left without the resources to build a positive future.”

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INITIATIVES

VJ Hope Foundation has already hit the ground running. One of its initiatives being the awarding of a full scholarship, the first recipient of which is D’anna-kay Anderson from Cockburn Garden, who is attending St Andrew High School for Girls.

Anderson wrote a touching and convincing essay, in which she said: “… what should the behaviour of a child from a low-income, violent neighbourhood look like? No different than a child grown in a home with good morals, and a good role model.”

“Being a VJ Hope Foundation scholar will help me to better achieve my goal to complete high school and proceed into my career as a physician,” Anderson added.

“D’anna-kay’s testimonial moved scholarship committee members to tears,” said Jaisingh.

She added that D’anna-kay’s story took her back to her childhood. “It reminded me when I was small and my parents used to take me to a girls’ home, we couldn’t go inside and had to pass the care package to a little girl on the other side of the fence; when we were driving off, I saw the girl waving at us from behind the fence, it was an image that forever stuck in me,” Jaisingh said.

As a part of the foundation’s initiative, the members visited a girls’ home bearing gifts. “We brought gifts and spoke with the kids to get their input and assess their needs, so we can best implement programmes to give support to empower and motivate and support a brighter future for them, one heart at a time,” Jaisingh said.

She informed that the foundation’s programme coordinator, Dr Arlene Blake-McCain, will develop a programme on how to give the best support to the youth.

The foundation, Jaisingh informed, will focus on organising health camps, and later provide access to counselling services and support networks. Additionally, the foundation plans to host workshops on skills training, financial literacy, and youth mentorship, aiming to address the root causes of hopelessness in communities affected by poverty, unemployment, and limited educational resources.

“Bringing programmes like these into the community can be life-changing for those who feel isolated or without hope,” said Dr Lorenzo Gordon, director at VJ Hope Foundation. “We will be working to bring a positive impact, creative opportunities, and bring together families, friends, and neighbours in bringing tangible change.”

For more information about VJ Hope Foundation contact: vjhopefoundation@gmail.com. For information on the foundation’s scholarship programme email: scholarshipvjhes@yahoo.com.